Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Aug 4;7(8):599-610.
doi: 10.1530/EOR-22-0040.

Early-onset scoliosis: a narrative review

Geovanny Ruiz  1 , Norberto J Torres-Lugo  2 , Pablo Marrero-Ortiz  2 , Humberto Guzmán  2 , Gerardo Olivella  2 , Norman Ramírez  3
Affiliations
Review

Early-onset scoliosis: a narrative review

Geovanny Ruiz et al. EFORT Open Rev. .

Abstract

Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is defined as any spinal deformity that is present before 10 years old, regardless of etiology. Deformity must be evaluated based on the intercorrelation between the lungs, spine, and thorax. Curvatures of early-onset have increased risk of progression, cardiorespiratory problems, and increased morbidity and mortality. Progression of the deformity may produce thoracic insufficiency syndrome, where a distorted thorax is unable to support normal respiratory function or lung growth. Management and treatment of EOS should pursue a holistic approach in which the psychological impact and quality of life of the patient are also taken into consideration. Growth-friendly surgical techniques have not met the initial expectations of correcting scoliotic deformity, promoting thoracic growth, and improving pulmonary function.

Keywords: complications; early-onset scoliosis; growth-friendly surgery; outcomes; quality of life; thoracic insufficiency syndrome.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Graph shows the lung growth curve based on alveolar cell multiplication as a function of age. This summarizes several small autopsy series. The regression line was calculated by Dunnhill, (23) and the solid vertical line is the mean and range of the number of alveolar cells at maturity as reported by Angus and Thurlbeck . The synchronous thoracic volume increase is labeled as a percent of adult volume. Histographic sections of alveoli at the various stages of development are also shown. (Reproduced, with permission, from Campbell RM Jr, Smith MD. Thoracic insufficiency syndrome and exotic scoliosis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007 Feb;89 Suppl 1:108-22; with permission from Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)
Figure 2
Figure 2
VACTERL syndrome patient’s radiographs Pre (A) and Post (B) Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib (VEPTR) Implantation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Syndromic early-onset scoliosis (EOS) patient’s radiographs Pre (A) and Post (B) Magnetically Controlled Growing Rod (MCGR) Implantation.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Idiopathic early-onset scoliosis (EOS) patient’s radiographs Pre (A) and Post (B) Vertebral Body Tether (VBT) Implantation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ponseti IV, Friedman B. Prognosis in idiopathic scoliosis. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: American volume 195032A381–395. - PubMed
    1. James JI, Lloyd-Roberts GC, Pilcher MF. Infantile structural scoliosis. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: British Volume 195941-B719–735. (10.1302/0301-620X.41B4.719) - DOI - PubMed
    1. Dickson RA.Conservative treatment for idiopathic scoliosis. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery: British Volume 198567176–181. (10.1302/0301-620X.67B2.3872301) - DOI - PubMed
    1. Dickson R.Early-onset idiopathic scoliosis. Pediatric Spine: Principles and PracticeS Weinstein (Ed), 421 -–429.. Raven Press:New York: 1994.
    1. El-Hawary R, Akbarnia BA. Early onset scoliosis - time for consensus. Spine Deformity 20153105–106. (10.1016/j.jspd.2015.01.003) - DOI - PubMed