Idiopathic scoliosis. The last ten years and state of the art.

The etiology of idiopathic scoliosis remains unknown. Certain growth characteristics have been identified but they have not led to any conclusions as to the cause. Scoliosis is a progressive disease, even in adulthood, and can lead to significant disability if large curves are left untreated. Conservative treatment remains in the realm of braces as electrostimulation has not proven its worth. The techniques of spinal surgery and instrumentation have taken the largest leaps in the past decade. Technically, difficult anterior and posterior instrumentation and fusion are more safely done when the spinal cord is monitored. The future is bright and may open even more vistas in the next decade. Prophecies are made as to what tomorrow will bring.