At what age range is idiopathic scoliosis most commonly diagnosed?

At what age range is idiopathic scoliosis most commonly diagnosed?

• A. 8 to 15 years
• B. 2 to 5 years
• C. 25 to 40 years
• D. 60 years and older

Answer: (A)

Idiopathic scoliosis most often appears during adolescence, when the spine is still growing and the body is going through a rapid growth spurt. This is why the age range around early to mid-teen years is the typical window for diagnosis—the curvature can emerge and then progress as growth occurs, and progression tends to slow after skeletal maturity. The other age groups are less common for the onset of idiopathic scoliosis: very young children can have scoliosis, but idiopathic cases are not as typical there; adults are more likely to have scoliosis from degenerative changes or from a condition present since childhood rather than new onset of idiopathic scoliosis. Therefore, the 8 to 15 years range best fits when idiopathic scoliosis is most commonly diagnosed.

Idiopathic scoliosis most often appears during adolescence, when the spine is still growing and the body is going through a rapid growth spurt. This is why the age range around early to mid-teen years is the typical window for diagnosis—the curvature can emerge and then progress as growth occurs, and progression tends to slow after skeletal maturity. The other age groups are less common for the onset of idiopathic scoliosis: very young children can have scoliosis, but idiopathic cases are not as typical there; adults are more likely to have scoliosis from degenerative changes or from a condition present since childhood rather than new onset of idiopathic scoliosis. Therefore, the 8 to 15 years range best fits when idiopathic scoliosis is most commonly diagnosed.