At what degree of lateral curvature of the spine is scoliosis defined?

Scoliosis is defined as a lateral curvature of the spine that measures 10 degrees or more as determined by X-ray examination. At this threshold, the curvature is considered significant enough to potentially warrant clinical intervention and monitoring. While a curvature of 5 degrees may be seen as a minor anomaly or a normal variant, it does not meet the criteria for diagnosis. Thus, a measurement of 10 degrees is the accepted standard in defining scoliosis, which signifies the condition and guides healthcare providers in deciding how to manage the patient’s care. This is why the answer identifying 10 degrees is correct; it represents the threshold at which scoliosis is recognized in clinical practice.