Scoliosis

Scoliosis

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You may have seen individuals with scoliosis and wondered what it was. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that most often is diagnosed in adolescents. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some curves worsen as children grow. Without treatment,  scoliosis can be disabling and cause many complications. An especially serious spinal curve can reduce the amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly. Symptoms can increase or appear as your body ages, which can result in a late diagnosis. This is why you need to find orthopedic specialists extensively experienced in diagnosing and treating scoliosis. You won’t find experts more highly competent and dedicated to their patients than those at Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

OVERVIEW

Scoliosis is a side-to-side curve of the spine that differs from the body’s natural front-to-back curve. Scoliosis affects 2-3 percent of the population or an estimated six to nine million people in the United States. Scoliosis can develop in infancy or early childhood. However, the primary age of onset for scoliosis is 10-15 years old. Scoliosis equally affects all genders and sexes but females are eight times more likely to progress to a curve magnitude that requires treatment. When parents hear scoliosis runs in families, they often say, ‘But nobody in our family has it,’” But in reality, it’s likely that someone does or did and it went unnoticed because it was a very mild case. Of course, there are also instances where a child is the first in the family to develop the condition. Every year, scoliosis patients make more than 600,000 visits to private physician offices, an estimated 30,000 children are fitted with a brace and 38,000 patients undergo spinal fusion surgery.

ABOUT THE SPINE

The spine is the body’s central support structure. It gives the body shape, supports the posture, and helps one to walk, twist, be flexible, and move. A healthy spine has three natural curves that make an S-shape-like curve when looking at it from the side. These curves work as shock absorbers that help a healthy spine withstand all kinds of stress. The spine includes bones, muscles, tendons, and other tissues that reach from the base of the skull to the tailbone. The backbone encloses the spinal cord and the fluid surrounding the spinal cord. Also called spinal column, spine, and vertebral column. Although the spine is made up of a chain of bones, it is flexible due to elastic spinal discs and ligaments. The structure of the backbone is incredibly complex when broken down. Aside from 33 individual bones, the spine contains 120 muscles and 100 joints connected by 220 different ligaments.

WHAT IS SCOLIOSIS?

There are three types:

  • Idiopathic scoliosis: This is the most common type. “Idiopathic” means the cause is unknown. Research does indicate that it runs in families and has a genetic link.
  • Congenital scoliosis: This is a rare spine abnormality that a healthcare provider may detect at birth. It occurs when vertebrae don’t form as they should during embryonic development.
  • Neuromuscular scoliosis: Abnormalities in the muscles and nerves that support the spine cause this type.

Healthcare providers use different names to refer to idiopathic scoliosis according to when it is diagnosed:

  • Infantile scoliosis: Younger than age 3
  • Juvenile scoliosis: Age 4 through 10
  • Adolescent scoliosis: Age 11 through 18

In adolescents, most cases occur in the thoracic spine (rib cage) area.

In adults, the main concern is in the lumbar or lower spine. The lumbar spine is most susceptible to the changes seen with aging or degeneration, which increases symptoms like pain.

Read more about Scoliosis on our new Colorado Springs Orthopedic News Site – Colorado Springs Orthopedic News. Schedule an appointment with a spine specialist today.