The truth is that many children do not have such an annual physical and even if they do, the spine is not even looked at. It should also be noted that 26 percent of the parents did not take their child in for medical examination, even when notified of a positive finding on school screening. This poor rate of parental compliance was in a highly educated, health-conscious community. In conclusion, Dr. Yawn and colleagues have once again raised the issue of the value of school screening for scoliosis, but at the same time have provided no solid evidence that it should be discontinued. Since it is now well proven that brace treatment can be effective, but only if the curves are detected early, we should not abandon the only effective means for such early detection.
Debate rages over school screening.
The Orange County Register, Oct. 27, 1999. A Population-based Study of School Scoliosis Screening. Robert B. Winter, MD, is a clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery, University of Minnesota, and a research consultant to the Twin Cities Spine Center. He is a founding member of the Scoliosis Research Society and 1973 President.