Prevalence of congenital scoliosis in infants: a single center study based on Chest-abdomen X-ray films detected in the emergency department

English Keywords:Congenital scoliosis  Infant  Chest-abdomen X-ray film  Prevalence

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of congenital scoliosis in infants based on chest-abdomen X-ray films. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on infant patients from the emergency clinic in our institution between February 2008 and June 2018. The patients who had taken the chest-abdomen X-ray films were included. The congenital scoliosis patients were screened out. The demographic characteristics of the patients, the type and the location of the vertebral malformation and the rib deformity, intraspinal anomaly, and the combined defect of other systems were analyzed. Results: A total of 46318 infant patients of the emergency clinic were enrolled, including 29643 males and 16675 females. The average visiting age was 124±127d(1-365d). 83 patients were diagnosed with congenital scoliosis with an average age of 72±95d(1-365d), and the prevalence was 1.8‰. Of the CS patients, there were 52 males and 31 females, and there was no statistical gender difference of the scoliosis prevalence(P>0.05). The visiting reasons included chief complains related to respiratory system in 34 cases(41%) and digestive system in 45 cases(54%), and cry in 4 cases(5%). Number of patients with deformity in different regions: main thoracic(T6-T11) in 62 cases, proximal thoracic(T1-T5) in 37 cases, thoracolumbar(T12-L1) in 23 cases, lumbar(L2-L4) in 11 cases, and lumbosacral(L5-S1) in 1 case. 34 patients(41%) had single level deformity. The number of patients decreased with the levels of deformities increasing from 1 to 12. Rib anomalies were documented in 23(27.7%) patients, of which 19(22.79%) had rib anomalies in the main thoracic region. 13(15.7%) patients had at least 3 continuous levels of rib anomalies. 3 patients were found with intraspinal anomalies. A total of 37 patients(44.6%) were found combined with other organic defects, of which 7 patients had 2 other system abnormalities. The most common extraspinal defects were the congenital heart disease(16 cases, 19.3%) and congenital imperforate anus(20 cases, 24.1%). Conclusions: The prevalence of congenital scoliosis in infants is 1.8‰ based on chest-abdomen X-ray films. The malformations of the vertebrae and ribs were most frequently seen in the main thoracic region. The congenital scoliosis patients combined with complicated rib deformities, congenital cardiac defects or digestive system abnormalities were more easily diagnosed at early stage because of their early onsets of symptoms.