Prevalence of scoliosis in cystic fibrosis

Background The prevalence of idiopathic scoliosis in the general pediatric population is reported to be between 0.5% and 3.2%. Previous studies have reported an increased prevalence of scoliosis in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Hypothesis The prevalence of scoliosis in CF children is greater than in the normal population. Methods Chest X‐rays of 319 patients attending the Royal Brompton CF Centre were reviewed. The Cobb angle of any spinal lateral curvature was measured. Scoliosis was defined as a Cobb angle of more than 10°. Results Median age of the whole group of patients was 10.9 years (range 1.1–18 years), 53% were females. Seven patients (2.2%) had radiological signs of scoliosis, their mean age was 14.5 ± 2.3 years (range: 11.5–18 years), 5 were females. Age at onset of scoliosis was between 5 and 10 years for three patients and over 10 years for the others. All the curves were thoracic and with right convexity: apices between T7 and T9 for the single curves (n = 5) and between T4 and T5 (n = 2) for the double curves. Conclusion CF patients showed a similar prevalence of scoliosis as in the normal population (2.2% vs. 0.5–3.2%). There was the same gender (female) and side (right‐sided) predilection as in normal population. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013; 48:553–555. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.