Electrical stimulation for idiopathic scoliosis.

To evaluate the effectiveness of lateral electrical spinal stimulation for idiopathic scoliosis, 87 patients treated with this modality were reviewed retrospectively. All patients had no prior treatment, had a documented progression of more than 5 degrees, and were skeletally immature. Forty-seven patients were compliant and followed until skeletal maturity or institution of other treatment. Fifty percent of patients with a high probability of progression required surgery. For compliant patients, 51% progressed 5 degrees or more and 36% progressed 10 degrees or more or required a change to another treatment modality. Statistical analysis demonstrated no significant difference in the probability of progression between this group of treated patients and previously published groups of untreated patients.