My child has a crooked spine. What is Scoliosis?

My child has a crooked spine. What is Scoliosis?

Are you worried about the crooked spine of your child? If yes, then you might be wondering if they have Scoliosis. In this article, we will discuss Scoliosis in detail and tell you how you can take care of your child to make things better.

Scoliosis is a deformity in the spine (backbone). In scoliosis, a side to side curve appears in your child’s spine. The curvature in the spine is usually 10 degrees or greater. This disorder usually develops in childhood, causing the spine of children to curve to the left or to the right. Of course, it may also develop in adolescence or at times in adulthood.

If you look at a child’s normal spine, it will look straight to you. But if you look at the spine of a child having Scoliosis, you might observe an S or a C shape. You may feel that the child is leaning to one side. The curve can appear on one side of the spine or appear in different areas of both sides. There is a chance that both the thoracic and lumbar spines may be equally affected.

Almost 2-3% of the population of the world is affected by Scoliosis. It can develop during infancy or early childhood. However, the most common age in which scoliosis is observed is in children between the ages of 10 to 15 years. It occurs equally among both genders; however, there is an eight times higher chance of curve progression in females that may require treatment. Most parents may not pay attention to this and consider this a spinal asymmetry but if it is identified early, then your child could have all the necessary care they need.

Causes of Scoliosis

In almost 80% of all patients with a scoliosiscthe cause of the deformity is unknown. This is the reason that it is known as an idiopathic scoliosis. There is no prevention of Idiopathic Scoliosis and so one cannot link it to bad posture, exercise, diet and so forth. Sometimes you have it in your genes or it runs in families.

Some other things which can cause Scoliosis include:

• Sometimes the bones of the spine do not form properly when the child is in the womb. This is known as a Congenital Scoliosis and it is present in children by birth.
• Sometimes it can occur due to an underlying nerve or muscle condition such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. This type of Scoliosis is known as a Neuromuscular Scoliosis.
• It can also occur due to wear and tear as a person ages. This type of Scoliosis is known as a Degenerative Scoliosis and it usually occurs in older adults.

What Are The Symptoms of Scoliosis?

Several symptoms can point towards a scoliosis. We have listed some of these symptoms below.

• A prominent curve on your back.
• Shoulders might seem uneven.
• Your hips might look uneven.
• Your waist might look uneven.
• The entire body might look like leaning on one side.
• The Head is not centered directly above the pelvis.
• Lower back pain
• Back Stiffness
• Fatigue due to muscle strain.

If you notice one or more symptoms mentioned above, it is recommended to schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Diagnosis For Scoliosis

The orthopaedic specialist may use your child’s complete health history and a physical examination to diagnose a scoliosis. You may also need to undergo the following tests:

X-rays:  X-rays are used to obtain the internal imaging of your bones, tissues, and muscles. It is one of the basic tools used to diagnose scoliosis as you can measure the degree of spinal curvature using x-rays.

MRI: MRI uses a combination of large magnets and a special computer to obtain detailed images of structures and organs inside our body. If there is any deformity in your spine, it can easily be identified using an MRI scan.

CT scan: This technique uses x-rays and a computer to make detailed images of your body. It is also an effective test when it comes to diagnosing Scoliosis.

It is important to find Scoliosis at its early stages as it can be treated easily. If it is left untreated for a long time, it can affect your heart and lung’s functionality. Healthcare providers and even some school programs routinely check their children for any signs of scoliosis so that they can be treated at early stages.

What Are The Treatment Options Available For Scoliosis?

The treatment of Scoliosis depends upon several factors, namely  your child’s age, symptoms, and the severity of the curve. The goal of the treatment is to prevent the curve from getting worse and avoid any deformity.

In most cases of mild scoliosis, you may not need any kind of treatment. Instead, your doctor will monitor your x-rays from time to time to check if it is getting worse. It may progress quickly in some cases and your doctor may suggest the following treatments for your child.

Braces

If your kids are still growing and have a scoliosis, they might be required to wear a brace around their torso.  It will help to stop the curve from growing and getting worse. These braces are made up of plastic polymers, and most of the kids wear them 24/7. They are easily hidden under their clothes, and they don’t prevent them from doing daily activities.

Spinal Fusion Surgery

In this type of surgery, doctors put small pieces of a bone-like material between the bones of your spine and use specialized hardware to hold the bones together until they grow and fuse. This surgery reduces the curve in your spine and also prevents it from getting worse.

Spine and rib-based growing operation

It is performed on children who are still growing and have progressive scoliosis. Doctors use hardware to attach two rods to their spines or ribs, and the length of the rods is adjusted as the child grows.

These are amongst the common treatment options that are available for scoliosis. If you want to get more information about Scoliosis treatments, you can always contact Dr. Gowreeson Thevendran or visit www.orthofootMD.com.