Scoliosis for the USMLE’s
Scoliosis is the lateral curvature of the spine forming an “s” shape.
Tests for scoliosis:
Scoliometry: nonspecific test but still used. Angle ≥7 degrees (≥5 degrees in obese children) is diagnosed as scoliosis.
Better tool would be to measure the Cobb angle: <10 degrees is not scoliosis. ≥10 degrees is diagnosed as scoliosis. ≥40 degrees means they need surgical correction.
Further evaluation is required if the following red flags for a pathologic etiology are present:
Back pain
Neurologic symptoms
Rapidly progressing curvature (>10 degrees each year)
Vertebral anomalies on x-ray
We start with an x-ray of the spine to look for bone abnormalities but gold standard is MRI.
Hope this helps someone who needs a quick revision.