faq

Scoliosis is the most common deformity of the spine. The condition causes the spine to abnormally curve sideways, into an “S” or “C” shape and to rotate. Most curves are not severe and require only that patients are monitored by doctors, but high-degree curvatures may impact lung and heart function and self-esteem, and can require treatment with bracing or surgery.

One out of every 40 people, or about 7 million people in the U.S, have scoliosis. The condition can affect people of any age, but the most common age of onset is between 10 and 15 years of age. Each year, an estimated 30,000 children are fitted for braces and more than 100,000 children and adults diagnosed with scoliosis undergo surgery.

Anyone, at any age, can get scoliosis. Most of the time the person may be the only one in the family with scoliosis, but people who have a family member with scoliosis are much more likely to develop the condition. Girls are more likely to be treated for scoliosis; although girls and boys are diagnosed in equal numbers, girls are eight times more likely to have a curvature that progresses and becomes severe.

Common signs and symptoms include: uneven shoulders, ribs, hips or waist, back pain, one shoulder blade sticking out, a rib hump at the back of the waist or ribs, one arm hanging lower than the other, discoloration or change in texture in the skin that covers the spine. Idiopathic scoliosis is generally not painful at the onset.

In 85 percent of cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown; this is called idiopathic scoliosis. Before diagnosing a patient with idiopathic scoliosis, a doctor will look for other causes, such as injury, infection, birth defect or underlying syndrome or disease.

A doctor will take the following steps to diagnose scoliosis: take a medical history, perform a physical exam, order and review an x-ray and/or MRI and take measurements of the curve.

One quarter of children with spinal curves require medical attention. Most scoliosis patients have their spinal curvatures monitored by doctors, on a regular basis, to determine whether the curve is progressing. Some patients may choose a variety of alternative methods for more active treatment of smaller curves or for ongoing management. For children who are still growing and have spinal curves more than 20 degrees, bracing may be recommended as a treatment. Surgery may be advised in severe cases, in which a spinal curve has progressed rapidly, or has progressed to more than 50 degrees.

Ask your local hospital and doctor for information and support groups in your area. You can also call the National Scoliosis Foundation at 800-NSF-MYBACK or www.scoliosis.org.