What Is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature in the spine commonly seen in children and adolescents. There are several different types of scoliosis. The most common type of scoliosis is refrred to as idiopathic.
More Information About Scoliosis
Types
Idiopathic scoliosis: The term “idiopathic” means unknown cause. While the medical community does not know for sure what causes the majority of scoliosis cases (80% – 85% of them), it is known that it tends to run in families. Scoliosis is not a disease that a patient can catch from someone else, and there is nothing that can be done to prevent it. Idiopathic scoliosis can occur in toddlers and young children alike, but the majority of cases occur from age 10 to the time a child is fully grown.
Congenital scoliosis: The term “congenital” means that the patient is born with the condition. Congenital scoliosis starts as the spine forms before birth. Part of one vertebra (or more) does not form completely or the vertebrae do not separate properly. Some types of congenital scoliosis can change quickly with growth while others can remain unchanged. This type of scoliosis can also be associated with other health issues, including both heart and kidney problems.
Neuromuscular scoliosis: Any medical condition that affects the nerves and muscles can lead to scoliosis. This is most commonly due to muscle imbalance and/or weakness. Common neuromuscular conditions that can lead to scoliosis include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and spinal cord injury.
Symptoms
Scoliosis is not often painful, so if the curvature is not necessarily detected at birth. It can go undetected if there are obvious signs which may be as late as adolescence. A child may suspect something is wrong if clothes do not seem to fit properly. Parents often discover the problem in early summer when they see children in a bathing suit.
Symptoms vary by the type of scoliosis. The physical signs of scoliosis include:
- Tilted, uneven shoulders, with one shoulder blade protruding more than the other
- Prominence of the ribs on one side
- Uneven waistline
- One hip higher than the other
- Overall appearance of leaning to the side
- In rare cases there may be a problem with the spinal cord or nerves that produces weakness, numbness, or a loss of coordination.
Treatments
Treatment for scoliosis may take several forms depending on the age of the patient, the type of scoliosis and the tendency of the curve to worsen.
There are three proven treatments for scoliosis; observation, bracing and surgery. A doctor will recommend a course of treatment based on the severity of the scoliosis, the symptoms and the physical maturity of the child. These features predict how the scoliosis is likely to behave during the growth years and as an adult.
Surgical:
Most scoliosis surgeons agree that children who are afflicted with severe curves (45 – 50° and higher) require surgery to lessen the curve and prevent it from worsening.
The operation for scoliosis is a spinal fusion, the process of realigning and fusing the curved vertebrae so that they heal into a single, solid bone. This stops growth completely in the abnormal segment of the spine.
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