Guideline for adolescent scoliosis screening in China (public version 2024).

BACKGROUND

Scoliosis screening policies vary around the world depending on the situation. In China, based on the high prevalence and low consultation rate of scoliosis, the Clinical Practice Guidelines and Pathway Guidelines for Scoliosis Screening in Chinese Adolescents were released in 2021 to provide clinical guidance for the screening of this condition. However, public awareness of scoliosis screening is currently very low, and raising awareness among parents and teachers and promoting home-based screening are important tools to improve diagnosis rates.

METHOD

The guideline development group collected over 1000 questionnaires to identify the issues addressed in the guideline and invited 75 Chinese spine surgery experts to use the Delphi method to form the recommendations, ultimately resulting in the formation of this guideline. They proposed 11 recommendations addressing 9 issues, providing methods for both home screening and school screening.

RESULT

The guideline presents recommendations on the reasons for scoliosis screening, the target population, screening methods, post-screening diagnosis, and referrals. It also proposes standardized methods for home screening and school screening. Home screening method for scoliosis include back and spine shape observation and forward bending test. School screening methods for scoliosis include visual inspection, the forward bending test, portable scoliosis screening tools, scoliosis ultrasound screening tools and so on.

CONCLUSION

The guideline can provide easy-to-understand knowledge on scoliosis screening in adolescents, thereby improving the diagnosis rate of the disease and promoting early treatment. Early intervention and management of scoliosis is expected to reduce the potential risks associated with scoliosis in adolescents in the future.

THE TRANSLATIONAL POTENTIAL OF THIS ARTICLE

This article can promote the application of various scoliosis screening methods in future scoliosis screenings (including portable scoliosis screening tools), extend Chinese perspectives on scoliosis screening to the global stage, advance the translation of research achievements in the field of scoliosis screening, enhance the diagnosis rate of early scoliosis, and reduce the incidence of severe adolescent scoliosis.