Boys & Scoliosis

Scoliosis is an affliction of the spine. It can cause serious back problems if not treated. Girls contract scoliosis more often and more severely than boys. Still, scoliosis can be serious in boys as well, especially because boys often contract it at an earlier age when their bones have not yet hardened. Early onset can lead to worse problems in the long run if not monitored.

Symptoms

• Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. In most cases, scoliosis is "idiopathic," meaning there is no known cause. Despite common beliefs, scoliosis is not caused by carrying heavy items, such as a backpack. Common symptoms are uneven shoulders, habitual leaning to one side, and uneven breasts in girls and nipples in boys. In general, the affliction affects girls more than boys and children more than adults.

Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis

• Scoliosis typically affects older children, so infantile scoliosis accounts for only 5 percent of cases. This type affects boys more than girls. The ailment usually corrects itself, so treatment is generally not required; however, the condition should be monitored throughout childhood. If the curvature worsens, treatment will be necessary.

Juvenile Scoliosis

• Ten percent of scoliosis cases are juvenile scoliosis, which affects children ages 3 to 10. This type is more common and more severe in girls. Girls with juvenile scoliosis are more likely to suffer from long-term curvature problems, while boys typically grow out of the affliction. However, boys tend to contract juvenile scoliosis at a younger age than girls, thus their bones are not as mature. Early scoliosis can lead to further curvature problems as the skeleton matures if not properly monitored and treated.

Adolescent Scoliosis

• Scoliosis is most common in teens. While teenage girls and boys are equally likely to contract scoliosis, the prognosis is worse for girls. Teen girls are more likely to have long-term back problems as a result of scoliosis. It is particularly important to monitor the condition during teenage growth spurts in both boys and girls because the spine quickly expands and can aggravate the curvature problem.

Treatment

• In infants, scoliosis usually requires no treatment. In older children and teens, the condition can often be treated with a back brace. If the scoliosis is severe or is not caught soon enough, surgery may be required. During surgery, a surgeon will insert metal rods into the spine to fuse it together and prevent curving. After the bones fuse together, the metal rods become unnecessary, but typically they are not removed so that the child does not have to go through another surgery.