What a school screening program could contribute in clinical research of idiopathic scoliosis aetiology.

PURPOSE Scoliosis school screening (SSS) programs have clinically benefited many children through early detection and treatment, as it is clearly stated in the Consensus Paper which has been published by the Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT). It is also through these SSS programs that almost all of our current knowledge on the natural history and curve progression of IS has been made known. The present study summarizes the contribution of SSS in research of IS aetiology. METHOD We reviewed all the reports in relation to research of IS aetiology, which were published in peer-review journals and were originated from the Thriasio SSS program. RESULTS Analysis comprises of reports for (i) IS prevalence, (ii) aetiological studies originated from school screening referrals which implicate numerous environmental and biological factors in IS pathogenesis, (iii) suggestions for a more efficient screening, (iv) IS natural history, and (v) the evolving aim of SSS based on the reported research. CONCLUSIONS SSS should be adopted by policy makers, because its scope goes beyond the identification of IS at an early stage, contributing significantly into the research for IS aetiology.