Your Child Failed a Scoliosis Screening: What Happens Next?
A positive scoliosis screening does not mean your child definitely has scoliosis. It means a curve was noticed during a physical check. It now needs to be confirmed with proper imaging. Many screening results turn out to be minor or resolve on their own. The next step is usually a referral from your child's doctor or a confirmatory scan.
Key points
- A screening flag is not a diagnosis. It is a prompt to look further.
- The Adams forward bend test and the scoliometer give a rough indication, not a precise measurement.
- False positives are common, so try not to panic.
- Confirmatory imaging taken while your child stands upright gives the clearest picture.
- Early assessment means more options if treatment is needed later.
It is unsettling when the school tells you your child's spine needs checking. You want answers quickly, and you want them to be clear. This page explains exactly what the screening found, what it means and what to do next.
What is a scoliosis screening test?
A scoliosis screening test is a quick physical check. It looks for signs of a sideways curve in the spine. It is usually done at school or by a doctor and takes only a few minutes. The most common method is the Adams forward bend test.
Your child bends forward at the waist with arms hanging down. The examiner looks along the back for any unevenness, or a raised area on one side of the ribcage or lower back.
A small handheld device is placed on the back while your child bends forward. It measures the angle of trunk rotation. A reading above a certain level leads to a referral.
From behind, the examiner looks for uneven shoulders, a prominent shoulder blade, an uneven waistline or a visible rib hump.
These checks are designed to cast a wide net. They are good at picking up possible curves. But on their own, they are not a diagnosis.
What does a positive scoliosis screening result actually mean?
A positive result means the examiner saw enough unevenness to suggest a spinal curve may be present. It does not confirm a diagnosis. Screening tools are deliberately sensitive. This means they flag many children who turn out not to have a significant curve. These are called false positives, and they are very common.
So if your child has been referred, it is natural to worry. But the odds are in your favour. The referral is simply to get a clearer picture.
What happens after your child is referred for a scoliosis check?
After a positive screening, the usual next step is a visit to your child's doctor. The doctor may then refer your child to a specialist or for imaging. Here is what the usual path looks like.
Doctor's appointment
Your child's doctor will examine the back and check the screening findings. They will then decide whether imaging or a specialist referral is needed.
Confirmatory imaging
An X-ray or standing scan of the whole spine gives a clear view of any curve. It helps the specialist measure its size. Imaging taken while your child stands upright is the gold standard, because the spine is loaded naturally.
Specialist review
An orthopaedic consultant or spine specialist reviews the images, explains the findings and recommends next steps. Many children only need monitoring over time.
Monitoring or action plan
Depending on the size and nature of the curve, the plan might be observation with repeat scans, physiotherapy, bracing or, very rarely, referral for surgery.
Waiting for a specialist appointment can sometimes take a long time. If you would like answers sooner, a private standing scan can give you the same confirmatory imaging without a long wait.
Want to avoid a long wait? ScanAlign offers paediatric imaging at ScanAlign with EOS low-dose standing scans, so your child can be assessed quickly and safely.
Book a free video consultationWhy does standing imaging give a better picture of scoliosis?
Standing imaging shows the spine exactly as it behaves under gravity. That is how your child lives, walks and sits every day. When someone lies down for a standard X-ray or MRI, the muscles relax. A curve can then look smaller or different than it really is. A standing, weight-bearing scan shows the true position.
Full spine, full picture. A standing EOS scan captures the whole skeleton from head to feet in one image, while your child stands naturally. The specialist can see not just the curve, but how the hips, pelvis and legs are compensating.
EOS uses about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less. For a growing child who may need repeat scans over the years, this lower dose really matters.
Only part of the picture. Lying-down imaging relaxes the muscles and removes gravity. The curve may look different from how it behaves in real life. The image also usually captures only part of the spine. So the specialist cannot see the full chain of compensation from pelvis to shoulders.
At ScanAlign, low dose standing imaging, EOS technology captures the full picture in a single, low-dose standing image. This gives your child's specialist the clearest possible starting point for any decisions about monitoring or treatment.
A note on MRI. EOS shows bones, joints and alignment very well. If your child's specialist needs to look at soft tissue, the spinal cord or nerves, MRI is usually the better tool. The two work well together, and your specialist will advise which is needed.
Should you get your child scanned privately after a school scoliosis check?
It depends on your situation. Here is a quick guide.
- Your child has been flagged at screening and you want clear answers quickly
- You are waiting for a specialist appointment
- Your child is in a growth spurt and you want a baseline image
- You want a full standing image your specialist can use straight away
- Your child's screening was very borderline and your doctor is not concerned
- Your child already has an imaging appointment very soon
- There is no visible unevenness or pain at all
If you are unsure, a free video consultation can help you decide whether imaging is the right next step. No pressure, just honest guidance.
Before your child starts any treatment, or changes the one they are on, it is worth getting a detailed diagnosis. Knowing whether the cause sits in the pelvis, the legs or the spine changes what will actually help.
Frequently asked questions about scoliosis screening
The Adams forward bend test is the most common scoliosis screening method. Your child bends forward at the waist with knees straight and arms dangling. The examiner looks along the spine from behind for any unevenness, such as one side of the ribcage sitting higher than the other.
A scoliometer measures the angle of trunk rotation. The exact referral level can vary, but many screening programmes refer children whose reading is above a set level. Your child's doctor or the screening letter will confirm the figure that led to the referral.
False positives are very common. Screening is designed to be sensitive. This means it catches possible curves, but also flags many children who do not have a significant problem. Confirmatory imaging clears up any uncertainty.
No. At ScanAlign you can refer yourself. You start with a free video consultation. A specialist radiographer reviews your child's situation and confirms whether imaging is appropriate.
Yes. EOS uses about 90% less radiation than a standard X-ray, around ten times less. This makes it especially suitable for children who may need repeat imaging as they grow. Learn more about paediatric imaging at ScanAlign.
A screening test is a quick physical check designed to spot possible problems. A diagnostic scan, such as a standing X-ray or EOS image, produces a detailed picture. This lets a specialist measure a curve accurately and plan next steps.
The price for patients travelling from abroad is confirmed during the free video consultation, which you can arrange on our booking page.
When lying down, the muscles relax and gravity is removed. This can make a curve look smaller than it really is. A standing scan shows the spine under its normal load. It gives the most accurate picture of the curve as it is in everyday life.
Yes. Curves can progress more quickly during periods of rapid growth. This is why timely assessment matters. If a curve is confirmed, the specialist can put a monitoring plan in place to track any changes.
Bring the screening letter or any notes from the school check. Also bring any previous X-rays or scan reports if you have them. Your child should wear comfortable clothing that is easy to change out of.
Get clear answers for your child, without the wait
A free video consultation with a specialist radiographer can tell you whether imaging is the right next step. No referral needed, no obligation.
Book a free video consultationSources
- Scoliosis Research Society. "Screening for the Early Detection of Idiopathic Scoliosis in Adolescents." SRS Position Statement, srs.org.
- NHS. "Scoliosis: Overview." NHS Conditions, nhs.uk.
- Illés, T. et al. "The EOS imaging system and its uses in daily orthopaedic practice." International Orthopaedics (SICOT), 2012; 36(7): 1325–1331.
Written by Abbas Dhami (Specialist Diagnostic Radiographer).
This page is general information and not a diagnosis.
ScanAlign is the trading name of CoreMed Solutions Ltd and operates under The Harley Street Hospital's CQC licence.