ABSTRACT
In children with juvenile onset scoliosis, control of the deformity rather than resolution is the goal. Reduction in the size of the syrinx may be accompanied by improvement of the scoliosis in childhood, although in adolescence the curves may progress without recurrence of the syrinx. Such curves in the adolescent may demand surgical intervention. Children presenting with a scoliotic deformity beyond the first decade will have a distinct gender bias in favour of girls. Adolescent boys with scoliosis should be viewed with relative suspicion of an underlying pathology although boys will make up approximately 20 percent of cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The King classification of scoliosis was widely utilised in the Harrington era but has now largely been replaced in usage by the Lenke classification. This system has six curve types with modifiers. Its benefit is that the surgical management of a particular curve can be derived from its curve type.
