Spinal Deformity: Scoliosis and Kyphosis
A Handbook for Patients

Preface

Our goal in preparing and disseminating this information is to provide patients or parents with a better understanding of scoliosis and its diagnosis and management, using idiopathic scoliosis—the most common type—as a model. This information is intended as a supplement to the information your physician will provide you. Just as no two individuals are exactly alike, no two patients with a spinal deformity are the same. Therefore, your orthopaedic surgeon will be the most important source of information about the management of your particular spinal problem.

It is beyond the scope of this paper to discuss technical details concerning the surgical correction of scoliosis and kyphosis. Therefore, only a general review of these procedures has been included in the section dealing with surgery.

It is not intended that the contents of this manual be interpreted as standards or guidelines proposed by the Scoliosis Research Society.