2008 Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis – to operate or not

Description: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) represents a rare condition with a potentially detrimental impact on young patients. Despite vast clinical research and published treatment guidelines and algorithms, the optimal therapeutic choice for these patients remains highly controversial. While advocates of early surgery emphasize the benefits of surgical deformity correction with regard to physical and psychological outcome, the opponents base their arguments on the high risk of complications and a lack of documented subjective long-term outcome. In the present paper, the authors were invited to debate the opposite positions of "pro" versus "contra" surgical treatment of AIS, based on the currently available evidence and published guidelines.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis – to operate or not? A debate article Hans-Rudolf Weiss , Shay Bess , Man Sang Wong , Vikas Patel , Deborah Goodall and Evalina Burger Patient Safety in Surgery 2008, 2:25