Scoliosis: Medical History

The medical history (history of the patient) represents an important component in the diagnosis of scoliosis.

Family history

  • Is there a history of frequent bone/joint disease in your family?

Social history

  • What is your profession?

Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).

  • What symptoms have you noticed?
    • Restriction of mobility
    • Malposition, later with fixation
    • Back pain
  • How long have these changes existed?
  • Have you noticed any changes in the spine?
    • Lumbar bulge
    • Rib hump
    • Asymmetry of the skull
    • Shoulder, chest or pelvic asymmetry / pelvic obliquity.
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Chondrosis – degenerative cartilage disease
    • Spondylosis – degenerative spinal disease deformation of the vertebral bodies.
  • Are there any other changes in the body?
  • Is the course of the disease progressive?

Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis

Self anamnesis incl. medication anamnesis

  • Time of menarche (onset of first menstrual period)? [with the onset of menarche slowing of growth and about 2-2.5 years after growth arrest]
  • Pre-existing conditions
    • Constraint as an infant? Other possible indications: Flattening of the occiput, habitual torticollis, flexible rib bulge (“hump”), general body asymmetry.
    • Diseases of bones / joints
    • Systemic diseases)
  • Birth history: was there any prenatal distress?
  • Operations
  • Allergies
  • Medication history