SCREENING SCHOOL-CHILDREN FOR SCOLIOSIS ON THE ISLAND OF CRETE

The present study is the first that reports the prevalence of scolioti c changes in the island of Crete. We examined 21,220 children (10,942 boys and 10,278 girls), which corresponds to 87.8% of the 6-12-year-ol d children living in the Iraklion district (city and rural areas). Of the examined population, 9.6% were referred for radiological examinati on; 1.7% of the screened children were found to have spine deformities with angular values >10 degrees. The prevalence of severe abnormaliti es (>20 degrees) requiring conservative treatment was 0.06%. Thirty pe rcent of the scoliotic deformities involved the thoracolumbar region, whereas 48 and 22% of curves were confined to the thoracic or lumbar a rea, respectively. The cost of the screening per child during the Ist year was estimated to be $10 (U.S.), but it was reduced by 42% during the 2nd year. The screening program is continuing to include all four districts of the island of Crete and assess the impact of scoliosis sc reening programs and of conservative treatment on the natural history of the disease. Scoliometers are used for the selection of children wh o should be referred for radiological evaluation (>7 degrees). The scr eening includes children older than 8 years of age.