Scoliosis is defined as a lateral curve to the spine that is greater than 10 degrees with vertebral rotation. Idiopathic scoliosis has been subdivided into three groups; infantile (before age 3 years), juvenile (age five to eight years), and adolescent (age ten years till the end of the growth stage). The prevalence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is approximately 2% to 2.5%, although only 0.23% required treatment. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common type of spinal deformity confronting orthopedic surgeons. Its onset might go unnoticed, although it progresses fairly steadily.
Diagnosis of scoliosis is usually based on radiological methods and physical examination that mainly consists of the Adam's forward bend test. Treatment is based on the risk of curve progression and falls into three main categories: observation, bracing, and surgery.
The cause of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is unknown; it probably results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Many genes are suspected to be involved in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Some of these genes likely contribute to causing the disorder, while others play a role in determining the severity of spinal curvature and whether the curve is stable or progressive.