OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence and the epidemiological findings of scoliosis in 19-year-old Korean males.
METHODS
We applied chest radiographs for scoliosis screening from the examinations for conscription at Regional Military Manpower Administration in Seoul, Korea, from April 2009 to December 2009. A total 28,779 males, aged 19 years, were screened for scoliosis. Additional thoraco-lumbar radiographs were obtained for every examinee identified with scoliosis of more than 20 degrees using Cobb's angle.
RESULTS
The prevalence of scoliosis of more than 10 degrees of Cobb's angle was 5.3%(1532 of 28,779 males). The most common category for these 19-year-old males was scoliosis of 10 to 19 degrees. The most common pattern of scoliosis was thoracic (57.6%), followed by thoracolumbar (32.1%), lumbar (7.0%), and double major curves (3.3%) scoliosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Among 28,779 19-year-old Korean males, the prevalence of scoliosis of more than 10 degrees Cobb angle was 5.3%, and thoracic scoliosis was the most common.
