Editing Scoliosis (section)

== Prognosis ==
A 50-year follow-up study published in the ''[[Journal of the American Medical Association]]'' (2003) asserted the lifelong physical health, including cardiopulmonary and neurological functions, and mental health of people with idiopathic scoliosis are comparable to those of the general population. Scoliosis that interferes with normal systemic functions is "exceptional"<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hawes MC | title = Health and Function of Patients With Untreated Idiopathic Scoliosis—Reply. | journal = JAMA | date = May 2003 | volume = 289 | issue = 20 | pages = 2644; author reply 2644–5 | doi = 10.1001/jama.289.20.2644-a | pmid = 12771105 }}</ref> and "rare", and "untreated [scoliosis] people had similar death rates and were just as functional and likely to lead productive lives 50 years after diagnosis as people with normal spines."<ref name="jama.ama-assn.org">{{cite journal | vauthors = Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Spratt KF, Peterson KK, Spoonamore MJ, Ponseti IV | title = Health and function of patients with untreated idiopathic scoliosis: a 50-year natural history study | journal = JAMA | volume = 289 | issue = 5 | pages = 559–567 | date = February 2003 | pmid = 12578488 | doi = 10.1001/jama.289.5.559 | df = dmy-all | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stopgettingsick.com/templates/news_template.cfm/6427 | title = Many With Scoliosis Can Skip Treatments | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080820025107/http://www.stopgettingsick.com/templates/news_template.cfm/6427 | archive-date = 20 August 2008 | work = stopgettingsick.com }}</ref> In an earlier University of Iowa follow-up study, 91% of people with idiopathic scoliosis displayed normal pulmonary function, and their life expectancy was found to be 2% more than that of the general population.<ref name="jbjs.org">{{cite journal | vauthors = Weinstein SL, Zavala DC, Ponseti IV | title = Idiopathic scoliosis: long-term follow-up and prognosis in untreated patients | journal = The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume | volume = 63 | issue = 5 | pages = 702–712 | date = June 1981 | pmid = 6453874 | doi = 10.2106/00004623-198163050-00003 | s2cid = 22429772 }}</ref> Later (2006–) studies corroborate these findings, adding that they are "reassuring for the adult patient who has adolescent onset idiopathic scoliosis in approximately the 50–70° range."<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Asher MA, Burton DC | title = Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: natural history and long term treatment effects | journal = Scoliosis | volume = 1 | issue = 1 | pages = 2 | date = March 2006 | pmid = 16759428 | pmc = 1475645 | doi = 10.1186/1748-7161-1-2 | s2cid = 14194273 | doi-access = free }}</ref> These modern landmark studies supersede earlier studies (e.g. Mankin-Graham-Schauk 1964) that did implicate moderate idiopathic scoliosis in impaired pulmonary function.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Generally, the prognosis of scoliosis depends on the likelihood of progression. The general rules of progression are larger curves carry a higher risk of progression than smaller curves, and thoracic and double primary curves carry a higher risk of progression than single lumbar or thoracolumbar curves. In addition, people not having yet reached skeletal maturity have a higher likelihood of progression (i.e., if the person has not yet completed the adolescent growth spurt).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.srs.org/patients-and-families/conditions-and-treatments/parents/scoliosis/adolescent-idiopathic-scoliosis|title=Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis {{!}} Scoliosis Research Society|website=www.srs.org|access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref>