Prevalence Study of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis in Ten-, Eleven-Year Olds for 10 Years

Abstract

Purpose: School screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) was conducted for 10 years and the prevalence of scoliosis as well as the size and types of curvature were investigated. The outcomes and existing research results were comparatively analyzed and the usefulness of the moiré topography as a screening tool was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Moiré topography was used in screening of 413,351 10-and 11-year-old from 2002 to 2011; simple standing entire spine x-rays of selected examinees were taken. When the Cobb angle was 10° or higher, the condition was deemed to be scoliosis, and the size, location, and types of curvature were recorded. Results: The average prevalence over the 10 years was 0.4% (0.3%-0.5%) and the trends in yearly prevalence did not change significantly. The ratio of boys-to-girls prevalence rates for the 10 years was 1.0:3.8. The rate of those with scoliosis whose curvature was 10°-19°, 20°-29°, and 30°-39° was 71%, 24%, and 4%, respectively. King-Moe type III accounted for the largest portion at 45%, followed by type IV at 35%, type II at 11%, type I at 7%, and type V at 5%. Conclusion:The prevalence of scoliosis in the subjects was similar for the 10 years but differed from previous research results. The size, location, and types of curvature were similar to those reported in previous research. The differences in prevalence from existing research are considered to be due to the screening method used. Therefore, conduction of additional research on effective screening tests is necessary.

A survey of the clinical practice followed by Korean medicine doctors for scoliosis: Preliminary data for clinical practice guidelines

“…In 2014, An et al performed Moiré screening and secondary radiographic tests for 413,351 10 to 11-year-old adolescents and diagnosed 1584 subjects with scoliosis. [19] According to the 2019 health insurance statistics, [20] medical institutions treated 94,000 patients, and KM institutions treated 8000 patients with scoliosis; therefore, it can be inferred that KM institutions are not the primary choice for patients with scoliosis. However, many teenage patients with scoliosis and patients in their 20s visited KM institutions, and the satisfaction scale for KM treatment was 6 to 7 out of 10 with a treatment period <6 months, confirming KM treatment as a possible solution for patients with scoliosis who cannot receive immediate surgical treatment due to problems associated with vertebral growth.…”