Editorial on “Screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: US preventive services task force recommendation statement”

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently concluded that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the clinical benefits of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) screening for children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years (1). The recommendation differs from the 2004 USPSTF recommendation against AIS screening when it concluded that harms of screening exceeded the potential benefits. The decision to screen for AIS continues to be controversial in 2018, but there is a growing body of evidence over the last decade that show improved quality of life, aesthetics and curve progression with early scoliosis intervention. We will aim to critically evaluate the statement released by the USPSTF regarding the appropriateness of early AIS screening and assess recent guidelines presented by other societies that promote early AIS screening.