This review mainly focused on the etiology and the surgical strategy for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) treatment. Genome-wide association study on the etiology of AIS using samples from more than 5 000 patients and 6 000 normal controls showed two genes: LBX1-AS1 on 10q24.32 and TNIK on 3q26.2 highly related to AIS initiation and progression. Regarding the conservative treatment of AIS, bracing is the only well-documented effective non-operative management in the early stage of AIS. For the patients with Cobb angle smaller than 80°, balancing spine, saving fusion level and restoring thoracic kyphosis are the basic objectives in surgical management. For the severe cases, various osteotomy techniques are often needed. Adequate peri-operative management is important for severe cases, especially for the patients with respiratory failure and neurological deficits.
KEYWORDS: Genes, Scoliosis, Surgical procedures, operative