Orthopedics Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Orthopedics, including details on chronic injuries, muscoskeletal disorders, surgery, reconstruction.

Patient characteristics at the initial visit to a scoliosis clinic: a cross-sectional study in a community without school screening.

Beauséjour M, Roy-Beaudry M, Goulet L, Labelle H

Research Center, CHU Sainte-Justine Mother and Child University Hospital Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted of all patients referred for an initial visit to the orthopedic outpatient clinic of a metropolitan pediatric hospital in Canada for suspected adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). OBJECTIVE: To document the appropriateness of current referral patterns for AIS in comparison to those that were prevailing before discontinuation of school screening in Canada. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The consequences of the discontinuation of school scoliosis screening programs on the referral patterns of AIS patients remain unknown. METHODS: The clinical and radiologic charts of the 636 consecutive patients referred for scoliosis evaluation over a 1-year period were reviewed. Patients were classified according to defined criteria of appropriateness of referral based on skeletal maturity and curve magnitude. RESULTS: Of the 489 suspected cases of AIS, 206 (42%) had no significant deformity (Cobb angle <10 degrees ) and could be considered as inappropriate referrals. In subjects with confirmed AIS, 91 patients (32%) were classified as late referrals with regards to brace treatment indications. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that current referral mechanisms for AIS are leading to a suboptimal case-mix in orthopedics in terms of appropriateness of referral.

Published 22 May 2007 in Spine, 32(12): 1349-54.
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