Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of scoliosis and typically affects children who are at least 10 years old. The term adolescent means that a patient is not yet skeletally mature, meaning that they are still growing. The term idiopathic means "occurring without known cause." Idiopathic scoliosis affects 2-3% of children aged 10-18 years old and is more common among females than males. In idiopathic scoliosis, the specific cause is unknown; however it is largely thought to be a genetic disorder.

For patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, the parent or patient are usually the first to notice scoliosis but sometimes it is not discovered until a school screening or a doctor's visit. Most patients with AIS do not have many symptoms, but larger curves may cause a noticeable deformity, such as a rib hump, or pain. In severe cases the curve may even begin affecting heart or lung function.