ABSTRACT
Screening of normal school children has shown that a small degree of scoliosis occurs in 2-3% of the female population, and it tends to be unrecognized. This is because the rotational component of the scoliosis twists the vertebral bodies towards the convex side of the curve, but the spinous processes still tend to stay towards the mid-line. When viewing the spine from behind, it is the line of the spinous processes that is recognizable and this line does not seem to deviate until the curvature is quite marked. The mild rib hump is more noticeable than the curvature of the spine, and this is most noticeable when the patient bends down.
