What to Do When Scoliosis is Getting Worse After Treatment

Once your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis, she will need to see her doctor twice a year to make sure her condition does not worsen. If it does, you will need to consider the possibility that she will have to wear a brace for several years or undergo back surgery.

How Scoliosis is Diagnosed

• A diagnosis of scoliosis is made when the doctor looks at your child's ribs and back. If the ribs are uneven, with one side of the ribcage higher than the other, the doctor will order an X-ray so he can measure the degree of curvature. Scoliosis is considered to be worse in a child who is still growing because the curvature will get worse as she grows.

How is Scoliosis Treated?

• Mild scoliosis generally does not require treatment. In order to make sure your child's scoliosis remains mild, she'll need to see her doctor every four to six months.
  If your child's scoliosis does get worse, the doctor might prescribe a brace that she will wear until she has stopped growing. If the brace does not help and the degree of curvature continues to grow, your child's doctor might opt for surgery to correct the curvature.
  Scoliosis can be a hard diagnosis for a child to live with. Wearing a brace and undergoing back surgery will place a strain on your child. She will need your emotional support in order to get through treatment.

Surgery

• Your child's doctor might advise surgery for your child if her spinal curvature is higher than 45 degrees, if she is still growing and to keep the curvature from getting any worse.
  The surgeon can correct, stabilize and fuse or join one or more vertebrae in order to keep the curvature from deepening.
  Another form of surgery employs implants that are placed on the spine in order to keep it straight and correctly aligned. You should discuss all options with your child's doctor because you will have to think about several different issues such as your child's growth, the benefits and risks of surgery and your child's chances of experiencing another curvature as she grows older.