Scoliosis epidemiology is not similar all over the world: a study from a scoliosis school screening on Chongming Island (China)

BACKGROUND: School scoliosis screening has been carried out around the world. The screen program has never been performed on Chongming Island, the third largest island in China and characterized less population exchange with the rest of China. This study was designed to examine scoliotic parameters in children from Chongming Island and determine whether the parameters differed from those of the published data. METHODS: A total of 6824 children (3477 boys and 3347 girls) aged from 6 to 17 were recruited. The screen included Adam’s test and scoliometer measurements. Posteroanterior radiographic evaluation was performed if trunk rotation was 5° or more. RESULTS: One hundred seventy two were confirmed with Cobb angle of 10° or more; the prevalence was 2.52 %, higher in girls (3.11 %) than in boys (1.96 %) (p < 0.05). There was a weak positive correlation between prevalence and age. Majority curves were minor (from 10 to 19°). The most common thoracic curve was right curve (60.3 % of all thoracic curves), while the most common thoracolumbar (75.5 %) and lumbar curves (64.7 %) were left curves. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of scoliosis on Chongming Island was 2.52 %. This study indicates that epidemiology of scoliosis has regional variation, and genetic differences may contribute such difference. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1140-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.