Despistaje de escoliosis en el adolescente: ¿está justificado con los conocimientos actuales?

Objective: The aim of this study was to re-examine the basis of screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Patients and methods:Retrospective analysis of scoliosis screening of patients with a positive test was performed. The screening was performed in children between 10 and 15 years by visual inspection of the back and the Adams forward-bending test. Results: In 31.6% of the children, the screening test detected the presence of abnormal findings on initial physical examination. 19% of the total population was sent to a traumatology service. In 11% the diagnosis was confirmed (16 scoliosis, 12 of them idiopathic and 4 due to other conditions), PPV: 58%. In 8% of the adolescents exercise was recommended. In 1.2% braces were recommended. There were no differences in prevalence between sex, but the height of the children with scoliosis was greater (p<0.001). Conclusions: Because of the potential severe adverse effects and because the studies of the efficacy of the screening are not reliable, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Canadian Task Force and the Programa de Actividades Preventivas y Promocion de la Salud have excluded the routine screening of the asymptomatic adolescent for idiopathic scoliosis.