Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence, sex distribution, age at diagnosis and any relationship this may have to handedness in 10–16 year olds with idiopathic scoliosis.

Design: A total of 611 patients with scoliosis were reviewed.

Subjects: 344 patients were diagnosed as having idiopathic idiopathic scoliosis. Those between the ages of 10–16, with a Bunnell angle greater than 5 degrees were included in the study.

Outcome Measures: Incidence in females was 0.69 % and 0.15 % in males. The female:male ratio was 5:1.

Results: Age at diagnosis was earlier in females, and typically occurred eighteen months following menarche. The incidence of left-handedness in 10–16 year olds in the general population was found to be 10%. This was the same in the scoliotic group.

Conclusions: The data showed that there was no significant relationship between handedness and the typical idiopathic pattern. However, there was a significant relationship between left handed individuals and the atypical curves (p= 0.0003, CI 1.56–6.63)