Scoliosis
If you have a child between the ages of 10 and 18, chances are that he or she has been screened for scoliosis by your pediatrician during health check ups. Children who are found to possibly have scoliosis are referred to an orthopaedic surgeon for evaluation.
The facts about scoliosis
Scoliosis is a curve in the spine that makes the spine C-shaped or S-shaped, instead of a straight line from the neck to the hips. While infants, young children, and adults can develop scoliosis, the most common form is mainly found in adolescents.
About 10% of adolescents have some degree of scoliosis, and it affects equal numbers of boys and girls, across all racial and ethnic groups. However, about one-quarter of these children have spinal curves serious enough to require medical attention and most of them are girls. While the other three-quarters of those cases are mild and do not require treatment, a physician should be the one to determine this. Therefore, be sure to see your child’s physician if you have reason to believe your child may have scoliosis.
Other types of scoliosis can sometimes be caused by birth defects, neurological problems, diseases (such as polio or muscular dystrophy), and other medical conditions, but more than 80% of cases, the specific cause cannot be determined. These cases are called “idiopathic scoliosis.”
Scoliosis is NOT caused by:
- Sports or other physical activity
- Carrying heavy items or wearing a heavy book bag
- Slouching or other bad posture
- Lack of calcium
Scoliosis can also run in families: About 30% of scoliosis patients have a family history of the condition. Currently, there is no known way to prevent scoliosis from occurring, so the best defense is early diagnosis, evaluation and proper treatment.
Diagnosing scoliosis
If left untreated, spinal curves can get worse, leading to back pain and decreased lung capacity and heart and lung disease at advanced stages. Severe curves may also eventually make standing, walking and other movements difficult. The condition is usually not painful in its early stages, but can become painful if it is allowed to worsen. Untreated scoliosis can also become emotionally troublesome as it may give a person an unacceptable posture and gait. Additionally, as a spinal curve grows worse, it becomes more difficult to treat successfully. This is why early screening and diagnosis are so important.
Periodic check ups with your pediatrician or family practitioner that include screening for scoliosis usually involve a visual check: The child bends forward, and the physician examines the spine to see if it appears to be straight.
If the screening physician refers your child to an orthopaedic surgeon for further evaluation, the orthopaedic specialist will likely perform a similar visual check, along with a thorough medical history. In addition, the physician will check for unusual posture, differences in arm or leg length (as a curved spine can cause one shoulder, shoulder blade, or hip may appear to be raised higher than the other), strain in the trunk muscles, and other signs of scoliosis. Your child may also have an x-ray, which will allow the physician to measure the degree and type (C- or S-shaped) of the curve. This evaluation will help determine the type of treatment needed, if any.