Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis

• Diagnosed between ages of 4 to 10, this category makes up about 10% to 15% of all idiopathic scoliosis in children.
• Younger children: Boys are affected slightly more than girls and the curve is often left-sided.
• Older children: Condition resembles adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, with a predominance of girls and right-sided curves.

Prognosis

Juvenile curves that reach 30° tend to continue to worsen without treatment.

Treatment Options

• Observation
• Bracing / Casting - Bracing is often used to manage these curves, but many children in the juvenile age-range require surgical treatment.
• Surgery - Vertebral body stapling and tethering are novel options for treatment at this time.