23 papers · updated 2026-09-26 · Pediatric Orthopaedics · All topics
The newest papers on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis from the orthopaedic journals The Reduction reads, newest first, each with a one-line summary. The list is drawn from the digest’s archive and refreshed every week.
Get new Pediatric Orthopaedics papers by email, free: subscribe to The Reduction, focused on your interests, on the days you pick.
Despite late skeletal maturity, 12% of female AIS patients with Risser ≥3 experience clinically significant progression; lower BMI and residual growth are independent risk factors.
A medial pedicle wall referencing technique for extra-pedicular screws in narrow dysplastic thoracic pedicles in AIS surgery achieved shorter, less convergent trajectories with a low critical perforation rate.
The Scolioscoop V3 correlated excellently with the Bunnell Scoliometer when used by trained clinicians, but showed poor reliability for unsupervised home use by parents/caregivers.
In 88 AIS patients, 3D ultrasound measurement of the plane of maximum curvature was reliable, with the endplate-apex-endplate method recommended for radiation-free assessment of moderate-to-severe curves.
A retrospective study found all-pedicle screw selective thoracic fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis achieved durable curve correction and clinical improvement at over 5 years, with low complication rates.
Radiographic tether breakage in vertebral body tethering remains 50% with second-generation devices; surgeon-observed breakage improved significantly with newer technology.
In 155 AIS patients treated with a posterior dynamic distracting device, convergent caudal screw angulation—not screw depth or diameter—predicted mechanical failure and revision, especially in Lenke type 5 curves.
Changes in spinal alignment after implant removal in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
In a retrospective study of 25 AIS patients, implant removal after posterior spinal fusion caused mild coronal deterioration and progressive thoracic kyphosis (worse with earlier removal), while lumbar and pelvic parameters stayed stable.
Machine learning models using pre- and intraoperative data outperformed simple mean-based predictions in forecasting quality-of-life changes two years after adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery, supporting their potential use in patient counseling.
AIS patients with substance abuse history had markedly higher odds of developing new mental health disorders (especially depression), suggesting a need for targeted preoperative screening.
In AIS spinal fusion patients, replacing PCA-based opioid regimens with liposomal bupivacaine plus dexamethasone markedly cut opioid use and shortened hospital stay without worsening pain control.
Retrospective study finds optimal upper instrumented vertebra tilt angles differ significantly by level and curve flexibility in Lenke 1 adolescent scoliosis, guiding UIV selection.
Social deprivation was not significantly associated with severity of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis at presentation in this UK cohort.
Substantial discordance (16-25%) exists among skeletal maturity systems in adolescent scoliosis; Risser staging frequently overestimates maturity versus Sanders and CVM.
Qualitative interviews with AIS patients post-spinal fusion identified six psychological themes (anxiety, coping, peer support, meaning-making) supporting a biopsychosocial approach to perioperative care.
The Impact of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis on Pregnancy.
This review notes pregnancy-related spinal biomechanical changes can increase low back pain risk after AIS fusion to L3 or below, though curve progression risk remains low and epidural placement may be more difficult.
The Clinical Significance of the Lowest Instrumented Vertebra in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.
This review examines how choice of lowest instrumented vertebra in AIS fusion affects range of motion, return to sports, adjacent disk degeneration, and long-term clinical outcomes.
Radiation exposure from scoliosis radiographs may cause up to 5,600 excess breast cancers and 420 additional deaths annually; low-dose biplanar imaging should be used whenever possible.
Surgical Level Selection in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: An Evidence-Based Approach.
Surgical level selection in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis balances minimizing progression risk and optimizing spinal balance while fusing the fewest necessary levels.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis : a review of aetiological theories of a multifactorial disease.
This review examines competing aetiological theories—genetic, epigenetic, and environmental—behind adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, arguing that earlier mechanistic understanding could improve diagnosis and timing of intervention.
This literature review found AIS patients typically return to sport 6-18 months after spinal fusion, with up to a third switching to lower-impact activities but no reported complications from RTS.
Posterior Correction Techniques for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.
This review covers posterior spinal fusion techniques for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, emphasizing preoperative planning, judicious use of releases/osteotomies, and implant selection, noting no single reduction technique is universally optimal.
Brace treatment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: risk factors for failure-a literature review.
Poor brace compliance, early skeletal maturity, and baseline curve magnitude exceeding 40 degrees significantly increase adolescent idiopathic scoliosis progression risk.
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
This landmark study introduces the Lenke classification for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, showing it is more reliable than the King system for guiding surgical decision-making.
Epidemiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
This epidemiologic review outlines adolescent idiopathic scoliosis prevalence (0.47-5.2%), female predominance that increases with curve severity, and the influence of genetics and age of onset, while cautioning that screening study methodologies vary widely.
Home · All topics · Archive · Subscribe · FAQ
© 2026 The Reduction