Shriners Hospitals for Children® Participates in Scoliosis Screening Work Group

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December 7, 2009

Shriners Hospitals for Children® — Twin Cities partnered with the Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare and and the Twin Cities Spine Center to participate in the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Scoliosis School Screening Work Group. While Minnesota does not require school-based scoliosis screening, the state is a national leader in the development and implementation of evidence-based criteria for use in evaluation programs.

The work group, consisting of leading experts involved in scoliosis screening, outreach, referral and treatment, provided revised recommendations.

These new guidelines recommend that scoliosis screening be performed for girls during the fall of 5th grade year and the spring of 6th grade year. A scoliometer is used to measure the angle of trunk rotation; if the angle is equal to or greater than 6 degrees, the child should be referred to their primary care provider for further evaluation. MDH no longer recommends scoliosis screening for boys due to the lower risk factors associated with this population.

The early screening for scoliosis allows the opportunity for intervention before the child develops serious health problems.

Further information:
Minnesota Department of Health
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/mch/scoliosis/index.html

National Scoliosis Foundation
www.scoliosis.org

Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
http://www.gillettechildrens.org/fileUpload/Vol18No4.pdf

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