Scoliosis Research Society leaders are calling for a consensus definition for using "early onset scoliosis" to describe scoliosis development in young children.
An article authored by Ron El-Hawary, MD, and Behrooz A. Akbarnia, MD, addresses this issue.
Here are five key points from the report, published in Spinal Deformity:
1. The authors recommend 10 years of age as the logical differentiation between early and late onset scoliosis, as treatment principles for children with scoliosis onset at age five to 10 more closely resembles those for children under the age of five than over the age of 10.
2. Growth-friendly spine implants were classified in a publication earlier this year, defining early-onset scoliosis as "scoliosis of any etiology developing before the age of 10" which is a new definition built upon Ponseti's previous definition to include patients with non-idiopathic scoliosis etiologies.
3. The subcommittee endorses the term "growth friendly" to classify implants used to treat early onset scoliosis, a classification system approved by the Growing Spine Study Group and Children's Spine Study Group, among others.
4. The "growth friendly" definition supports implant systems including:
• Distraction-based systems
• Compression-based systems
• Guided growth systems
5. The consensus on definitions could help researchers better understand the disorder for future studies. "By utilizing consistent nomenclature related to the definition, classification and treatment of early onset scoliosis, we feel confident that significant progress in the study of this condition will be more readily possible in the future," stated the authors.