Spinal disorders in childhood II: spinal deformity

Spinal deformity is a common presenting complaint in specialist paediatric spinal clinics with the most common deformity being scoliosis. The presence of a scoliosis is always abnormal and usually forms part of a 3-dimensional spinal deformity with associated rotation. The fourth dimension with regards to the scoliosis is the potential for progression with growth. Scoliosis is classified according to pathogenesis, the major groups being idiopathic (70%), congenital (15%), neuromuscular (10%) or due to miscellaneous other causes such as Marfan’s syndrome or neurofibromatosis (5%). The mainstay of treatment for significant scoliosis is surgery by way of spinal instrumentation, correction and bone grafting to achieve a selective fusion of the spine.