Schumacher Chiropractic Clinics

I am extremely excited to announce that our Hopkins office is now offering a new simple saliva test. This test will help our doctors determine which children between the ages of 9-13 diagnosed with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), with curves between 10-25 degrees, are least likely to develop a painful and debilitating curvature of the spine. 

This genetic test is the first of its kind and is 99% accurate. We are proud to be the first chiropractic clinic in the Twin Cities to team up with ScoliScore to provide this cutting edge technology. If your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis, regardless of their age or the degree of their curve call us for help at 952-931-9867.

The ScoliScore™ Prognostic AIS Test, developed by Axial Biotech and distributed by DePuy Spine, uses the science of genetics to help doctors identify low risk patients, potentially saving them from years of repeated office visits and x-ray exposure, as well as the stress and anxiety associated with the uncertainty of scoliosis curve progression.

The researchers who developed the ScoliScore™ Test identified 53 DNA markers that are linked to the progressive form of scoliosis. The fewer of these genetic markers that are found in the saliva, the lower the score will be and the lower the risk of curve progression. Patients can get a score anywhere between 1 and 200.  A score of 50 or less is considered low risk. This score accurately corresponds to the low, intermediate, or high likelihood of your child's curve progressing to one greater than 40°.

About 7 million people in the U.S. have scoliosis. Most of them are children between 10 and 15-years old. Fortunately, in most cases, scoliosis is mild or moderate and generally does not require surgical treatment. However, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), scoliosis progresses in one-in-four patients to a point that requires treatment including chiropractic care, physical therapy, back bracing and for some, spinal fusion surgery.

The ScoliScore™ Test is the first clinically validated and highly accurate genetic test for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) curve progression.

The ScoliScore™ Test is intended for Caucasian children between age 9 and 13 diagnosed with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The ScoliScore™ Test results can help doctors understand the likelihood of curve progression, but does not identify which treatments to use. Test results should be used with other diagnostic information to help the patient and doctor determine the best course of action.

The ScoliScore Test is an important advancement in the care of scoliosis because, until now, there was no clinically reliable way to predict which patients with mild AIS curves would progress to a severe curve and which would not. As a result, all scoliosis patients were monitored in the same fashion as though they all were candidates for developing a severe curve, which requires months or even years of follow up.

The ScoliScore Test should be administered by Schumacher Chiropractic Clinics, P.A. prior to beginning scoliosis treatment, since the ScoliScore™ Test may help doctors make more informed decisions about how to manage your child's curve.

To administer the test, a saliva sample is collected in our office and then sent to Axial Biotech for analysis. It will typically take 2-3 weeks from the date the sample is received by Axial Biotech Laboratories for the results to be available. The ScoliScore™ Test report form is sent directly to the doctor treating your child.

The ScoliScore™ Test costs $2,950 and is likely to be covered by insurance, because the test utilizes well established Diagnostic CPT codes. Our clinic charges a $ 50.00 fee to administer the test. Patients should check with their insurance providers to determine individual coverage. The Axial Biotech Reimbursement Team is also available to help verify whether someone's healthcare insurance covers the test and to make the insurance billing process as easy as possible for doctors. 

Axial Biotech believes that every eligible patient should have access to the ScoliScore™ Test. The company offers the following programs:

Uninsured patient assistance.

Financial assistance for qualified under-insured patients.

Payment plans to meet your financial needs.

It is my understanding that they have financial scholarships that allow everyone that requires a test to get one.