RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To discuss and evaluate the selection of surgical procedure for the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis according to the location and degree of the deformity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>175 patients with idiopathic scoliosis underwent surgical treatment with correction and fusion. The patients were divided into four groups according to the location and degree of the deformity and four different procedures were used for each group. For each group, the blood loss, surgery time, correction rate, loss of correction at final follow up and complications were compared and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients underwent surgery safely and no neurological complication occurred. The correction rate was 81% for Group I, 86% for Group II, 68% for Group III and 72% for Group IV. All patients were followed up at least 2 years and the average time was 38 months (24 approximately 52).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Proper selection of surgical procedure according to the location and degree of the scoliotic deformity, satisfactory results can be achieved in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis.</p>