Scoliosis & Symptoms

Scoliosis is defined medically as a condition which results in an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine in a person. The condition seems to run in families but the exact cause of someone's scoliosis is often never known. Some adults that suffer from scoliosis are living with a problem that began when they were children and never dealt with. Girls have scoliosis more than boys do by a ratio of eight to one and an estimated six million people in the United States have the ailment. There is no cure for scoliosis but treatments can enable someone with the problem to live a normal life in most cases.

Causes

• While some instances of scoliosis are recognized as being brought about by diseases that afflict the neuromuscular system the vast majority of scoliosis cases (85 percent) are what is known as idiopathic. This means that the cause is not known. Certain birth defects can result in scoliosis and can begin as early as when a fetus is in the developmental stages. The fact that scoliosis appears to run in families lends scientists to believe there is a genetic component to what causes the problem. There is also a link between scoliosis and brainstem abnormalities that has yet to be identified. Some misconceptions that scoliosis is brought about by poor posture or from lugging around backpacks full of school books are totally untrue.

Symptoms

• If a person's spine is looked at from the side it appears as a long version of the letter "S." The upper back has an outward curve while the lower back goes a little bit inwards. The view from behind a person should show the spine as straight but in scoliosis the spine has an abnormal curve. The shoulders can be uneven with one of the shoulder blades standing out more than the other. The waist of someone with scoliosis can appear to be uneven with one hip looking higher than the other one does. Someone with scoliosis may lean to one side and they are subject to fatigue. When the condition worsens it makes the ribs on one side jut out further than the other side. Back pain and even difficulty in breathing are symptoms of extreme cases of scoliosis.

Mild in Childrenhildren

• Many children that are diagnosed with scoliosis have curves that are less than 20 degrees. A children's doctor or an in-school scoliosis screening program will detect such a problem. Children with mild scoliosis normally do not need treatment and check-ups and X-rays can help to determine if the problem is remaining the same or getting worse. Growing kids require an examination of their scoliosis every four to six months to stay on top of things. If the scoliosis does appear to be worsening then a decision can be made about the type of treatment for the ailment.

Braces

• Braces are one treatment for children with scoliosis, especially if the child is continuing to mature and the curve in the spine is in the range of 25 to 40 degrees. The brace cannot cure the condition but it can prevent it from getting any worse. Braces need to be worn both night and day to be effective. When the child reaches the point where their skeleton has matured the brace is no longer of any use. An underarm brace, also called a low-profile brace, is composed of plastic and nearly invisible when worn underneath clothing. It goes under the arms and around the rib cage of the child and is manufactured to specification so that it can prevent the spine from curving any further. A Milwaukee brace is a type that surrounds the torso and has a neck ring that has places for the chin and the back of the child's head to rest. Upper spinal curves are what this type of brace is used for, but it is being utilized less and less.

Surgical Options

• When the curvature of the spine is so great that a brace is ineffective then surgery is an option. Curves greater than 40 to 50 degrees require surgery that focuses on fusing vertebrate in the spine so that they can prevent any more curvature. Incisions are made in the middle of the back and two or more bones in the spine will be fused together. Metal rods, screws, wires, and hooks are attached to hold the bones together as they heal. These implants will remain in the body and although they cannot be felt by the patient or seen they can often help to apply force strong enough that it can aid in straightening the curve. Such a surgery lasts as long as eight hours and the patient will be hospitalized for as long as a week with their actions restricted for a few months afterwards as the bones heal.