Scoliosis

Scoliosis is abnormal curving of the spine. Cases can range from mild, which may not affect daily living, to severe, which can be painful and limit daily activity. It affects about 3% of people, which is a lot on a large scale!

Causes

There are many causes of scoliosis, including congenital spine deformities (those present at birth, either inherited or caused by the environment), genetic conditions, neuromuscular problems, and limb length inequality. Other causes for scoliosis include cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, and tumours. More than 80% of scoliosis cases, however, have no known cause.

Symptoms

Symptoms for scoliosis will vary. Some symptoms may include the following:

• Shoulders at different heights
• Head not centred directly above the pelvis
• Appearance of a raised, prominent hip
• Rib cages at different heights
• Uneven waist
• Changes in look or texture of skin overlying the spine
• Leaning of entire body to one side
• Rib prominence when bent over (also known as a “Rib hump”)

Diagnosis

A doctor may diagnose scoliosis with an exam such as an x-ray, spinal radiograph, CT scan, or MRI of the spine. The curvature of the spine is measured and described in terms of degrees. Generally, a curve is considered significant if it is greater than 25 to 30 degrees. Curves exceeding 45 to 50 degrees are considered more severe.

Treatment

Doctors take into account age, severity of scoliosis, and other factors such as physical condition. If the curve needs correcting, bracing may be used. Bracing keeps the curve in your spine from getting worse as your grow. If it’s more severe, surgery may be required, although many scoliosis curves never progress to this point!

This animated video does a great job of explaining scoliosis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQTyP9WQj_I

Information sourced from: https://www.medtronic.com/ca-en/your-health/conditions/scoliosis.html