Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis screening: Could a school-based assessment protocol be useful for an early diagnosis?

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis screening still needs a considerable implementation, particularly throughout a school-based assessment protocol.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical examinations currently in use for the diagnosis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, through a survey carried out in secondary schools to standardize a screening protocol that could be generalized.

Methods: In their classrooms, the adolescents underwent an idiopathic scoliosis screening through three examinations: Adam's test, axial trunk rotation (ATR) and plumb line. In case of single positivity to one of the three examinations, a column X-ray examination was recommended.

Results: The sensitivity and diagnostic specificity of Adam's test or ATR were 56.3% and 92.7%, respectively. The positivity to at least one between ATR or plumb line showed that sensitivity was higher than specificity: 91.3% versus 80.8%; the positivity to at least one between Adams's test or plumb line showed a sensitivity of 95.2% and a specificity of 81.5%. Finally, the positivity to all three examinations showed an increase in specificity (99.7%).

Conclusions: Taken together, our findings show that this school-based screening protocol had a very high specificity in early diagnosis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.