To investigate the pathogenesis, clinical manifestation and treatment of the adolescent scar contracture scoliosis caused by back scalding during infancy. From August 1997 to May 2005, about 1300 patients with scoliosis received surgery in our department. Only four of them were diagnosed with adolescent scar contracture scoliosis. One patient was first treated with skin expansion, back scar excision, and skin flap transfer, followed with anterior correction with TSRH instrumentation. Two patients were first treated with back scar excision and anterior spinal release, then treated with posterior correction with TSRH instrumentation; thoracoplasty was performed after 50 days in halo-wheelchair traction. The other patient was treated with posterior correction with TSRH instrumentation. No management of scalding was performed on the fourth patient. Anterior release and posterior correction were performed at intervals of 3 weeks. The deformities of four patients were well corrected. The trunk balance was restored and the pelvis leveled. The skin incision wounds healed well. Minor loss of correction was recorded during the last follow-up.