Scoliosis
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. The normal shape of a person’s spine includes a curve at the top of the shoulder and a curve at the lower back. If your spine is curved in an “S” or “C” shaped configuration down the back, you may have scoliosis.
It’s typically diagnosed in pre-teen or teenage children and is far more common in girls (90 to 95 percent) than in boys (five to 10 percent). A little more than one percent of the population have scoliosis.
The most common type of scoliosis is adolescent idiopathic, which occurs and progresses during a child’s preteen growth spurt. In general, this type of scoliosis is asymptomatic.
What is the cause?
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), about 80 percent of scoliosis cases have no identifiable cause. That said, we do know it is related to the growth of the spine. Some babies are born with scoliosis, but the more common types develop after birth.
Children are commonly predisposed and might have a very mild curve that progresses as they grow. Many times, a parent or other family member has scoliosis. However, it might be much milder and may have gone undetected if it didn’t progress to cause noticeable problems.
Degenerative scoliosis due to bad discs in the back is another type that can become a problem as people get older.
What are the symptoms?
Scoliosis is not typically associated with pain for children. Rather, the symptoms are visible. You may see a difference in the symmetry of the waist or shoulders, or it may appear the child is leaning to one side.
How is scoliosis diagnosed?
Our orthopaedists will discuss your history of pain, take a detailed history of symptoms and conduct a thorough physical examination.
We may order diagnostic scans, such as X-rays, myelograms, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans to identify the full degree of spinal curvature. Annual X-rays can help monitor any curve changes over time.
What are the most common treatments?
- Bracing has proven effective at treating scoliosis in pediatric cases where the curve measures greater than 20 to 25 degrees. Bracing can slow or prevent progression and is typically worn for 16 to 20 hours a day until the spine stops growing taller, which can be as early as 14 for girls or until 16 to 18 for boys.
- Physical therapy, specifically the Schroth Method, can be used in addition to bracing. This treatment involves exercises that are tailored to the patient’s unique spine curvature.
- Spinal fusion surgery can be effective in preventing continued progression of the curve.
Dependable Orthopaedic Surgeons
Whether you’re concerned about scoliosis, or are in search of other orthopaedic services, schedule an appointment with one of our orthopaedic specialists at one of our seven convenient locations throughout the Triangle.