Scoliosis

From ArticleWorld

Scoliosis is a sideways or lateral curvature of the spinal column, most commonly in the thoracic or upper lumbar spine. If caught early and treated, its progression can be controlled.

Incidence

Scoliosis affects approximately 3% of the population, although mild curvatures of less than 10% are more common. Only about 1 out of 2500 individuals develops curvatures of greater than 20%. Girls in their growing years between the ages of 10 and 14 years are most commonly affected. The majority of cases have no cause, although genetic factors, neuromuscular factors, growth and hormonal factors appear to play a role in its development.

Those with a connective tissue disorder called Marfan’s syndrome have scoliosis more commonly, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy or other connective tissue disorders are more prone to develop the condition. Interestingly, curvatures pulling the spine to the right are more common than left convex curvatures.

Signs and Symptoms

The condition of scoliosis is often without significant symptoms unless it is severe. The primary symptoms noted are an aching pain in the supportive muscles around the spine that must compensate for the curvature.

When checking for scoliosis, one looks for a prominence in one shoulder blade, the finding of one shoulder higher than the other with the hips generally level or a hump along one side of the spine when the individual bends over. Sometimes there is an asymmetry in the location of the breasts or the finding of clothes hanging awkwardly. One or more ribs can be more prominent.

Treatment

As some mild cases of scoliosis resolve spontaneously, observation is sometimes warranted. Children who are still growing may benefit from bracing or casting of the spine in order to prevent the progression of the disease. Surgery involves fusing the curved areas of the spine. Bone from elsewhere in the body is grafted onto the vertebrae to prevent progression of curvature.

The latest in surgical treatment of scoliosis involves the placement of rods, screws and wires that fix the spine in position. The placement of a rod alone, such as was initially done resulted in a back that was too straight (a loss of normal curvature).