Scoliosis, Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Scoliosis is a sideways or lateral curvature occurring in the normally straight vertical line of the spine. Scoliosis seen in children and teens does not cause any noticeable symptoms and is not very obvious until the curve of the spine becomes moderate or severe.

What Causes Scoliosis?
There are many types and causes of scoliosis, including:
• Congenital scoliosis
• Neuromuscular scoliosis
• Degenerative scoliosis
• Idiopathic scoliosis

Symptoms of scoliosis
In children and teenagers, scoliosis often does not have any noticeable symptoms. Most of the time scoliosis does not cause pain in children or teens. Adults who have scoliosis may or may not have back pain.
• One shoulder is placed higher than the other one
• One side of the rib cage appears elevated compared to other
• One shoulder blade sticks out more than the other
• One hip appears higher or more prominent than the other
• The body tilts to one side
• The waist appears uneven
• One leg may appear shorter than the other

Treatments for scoliosis include:

Braces: If the spine curvature lies between 25 degrees to 40 degrees and there is a minimum period of 2 years for optimum bone development, the most common treatment is bracing. This is done to halt progression of the curve. It may provide a temporary correction, but usually the curve will assume its original magnitude when bracing is eliminated.

Surgery: For people with curvature more than 40 degrees to 50 degrees are usually considered for surgery. Surgery ensures that the curve does not worsen. It does not perfectly straighten the spine too. Metallic implants are used to correct the curvature and hold it in the correct position until a bone graft, placed at the time of surgery, consolidates and creates a rigid fusion in the area of the curve. Scoliosis surgery usually involves joining the vertebrae together permanently-- called spinal fusion.