Scoliosis is a spinal condition that involves an abnormal curvature. Although the spine has natural curves in the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical regions, they form a straight line in the center of the back. With scoliosis, the spine curves to one side instead of maintaining its normal, straight curve. The three main types of scoliosis are:
- Idiopathic: Idiopathic scoliosis comprises 80% of all scoliosis cases and is diagnosed when no definitive cause is identified. This type of scoliosis is usually diagnosed in adolescence.
- Congenital: With congenital scoliosis, patients are born with an abnormal curvature of the spine due to malformation of one or more vertebrae while in the womb. This malformation can occur anywhere along the spine. Because congenital scoliosis is present in patients at birth, it is often detected in patients at an early age.
- Neuromuscular: If you are diagnosed with neuromuscular scoliosis, the cause of the abnormal curvature of your spine is likely an underlying disease. These conditions include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, or spinal cord trauma. Neuromuscular scoliosis is usually progress more rapidly than idiopathic scoliosis, so surgery is usually necessary.
When it's mild, scoliosis presents few or no symptoms. Severe scoliosis, on the other hand, can cause widespread problems throughout your body. Over time, mild scoliosis can worsen as a person ages and their spine develops. For this reason, doctors closely monitor children with mild scoliosis with X-rays and routine checkups to see if their condition worsens.
Symptoms
- Uneven shoulders
- One shoulder blade that appears more prominent than the other
- Uneven waistline
- One side of the waist appears higher than the other
- A part of the rib cage sticking out
- It sticks out more on one side of the back when bending forward
In most cases of scoliosis, the spine will rotate or twist, in addition to curving from side to side. This causes the ribs or muscles on one side of the body to stick out more than those on the other.
Causes
Doctors don't know the causes of the most common type of scoliosis, although it appears to involve hereditary factors, as the disorder is often passed down from parents to children. Less common types of scoliosis may be due to the following:
- Certain neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy
- Birth defects that affect the formation of the bones of the spine
- Previous chest wall surgeries in the first months of life
- Spinal injuries or infections
- Spinal cord abnormalities
Risk factors
Risk factors for the most common type of scoliosis include:
- Age. Signs and symptoms typically begin in adolescence.
- Sex. Although boys and girls suffer from mild scoliosis in approximately the same proportion, girls are at greater risk of the curve worsening and requiring treatment.
- Family history. Scoliosis can be hereditary, but most children who suffer from it do not have a family history of the disease.
A spine doctor can assess symptoms, offer testing, an accurate diagnosis, and effective treatment.
Remember that prevention is better than cure
