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As a child, you may remember being called before the school nurse to bend at the waist. What were they looking for? The answer is scoliosis, an abnormal side curvature of the spine that can be debilitating and painful in severe cases. This lateral (side-to-side) curvature most commonly presents itself in adolescence (age 10-18) but can appear as early as infancy and as late as adulthood. Scoliosis curvatures may worsen over time as the spine twists and rotates, causing rib and pelvic asymmetry, and in severe cases, chest cavity restriction. Approaches to scoliosis treatment are set in action based on the severity of the curvature, its location in the spine, as well as the likelihood for the condition to worsen over time. In many cases, scoliosis specialists may recommend simple observation,whereas in extreme instances, back and spine surgery may be the preferred scoliosis treatment approach.
Symptoms & Signs of Juvenile, Adolescent, & Adult Scoliosis Disease
The spine naturally curves outward in the cervical (neck) region, inward in the thoracic (mid) region, and back out again in the lumbar (lower) region. Individuals with structural scoliosis of the spine experience a lateral curvature of the spine that may present itself in one of the following ways:
- Shoulders appear uneven, with one shoulder blade protruding farther than the other
- Uneven ribcage height
- One hip appears higher than the other
- Head is not centered in relation to the pelvis
The cause of scoliosis of the spine is, for the most part, unknown, but in certain cases, can be attributed to congenital malformations, neuromuscular disorders, like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, as well as degenerative disorders. If left untreated, severe, chronic back pain may plague patients as they reach adulthood. What’s more, individuals with advanced scoliosis disease may experience an increase of lung infections as well as potential lung and heart damage that is the result of the ribcage infringing on the chest cavity. To combat scoliosis back pain and other complications, specialists may recommend the use of a brace for juveniles or adolescents whose bones are still growing. Minimally invasive spine and scoliosis back surgery is a treatment option open to those whose life and health has been negatively impacted due to their scoliosis disease and condition. |
