ABSTRACT
An Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) screening system is crucial for early detection and intervention, especially in the rural and less developed areas where most cases present as severe scoliosis at their first visit. EOS, usually a systemic disease, requires a multidisciplinary consultation involving physicians from respiratory, cardiac, thoracic, anaesthesiology, and nutrition departments to complete the overall assessment. Medical resources and insurance policies vary greatly in different countries and regions, which is also the case in China. For patients in less developed areas of China, the help from charitable foundations plays a pivotal role. In China, there are many public welfare foundations for scoliosis, and each year hundreds of patients with scoliosis are treated with the help of the foundation. It is still challenging for spinal surgeons and researchers to explore the pathogenesis and develop treatment guidelines. More research and investments are needed in the future in this area.
