Health and function of patients with untreated idiopathic scoliosis: a 50-year natural history study.

Context: Previous long-term studies of idiopathic scoliosis have included patients with other etiologies, leading to the erroneous conclusion that all types of idiopathic scoliosis inevitably end in disability. Late-onset idiopathic scoliosis (LIS) is a distinct entity with a unique natural history.

Objective: To present the outcomes related to health and function in untreated patients with LIS.