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Orthopaedic Surgery Center and Scoliosis Clinic
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a lateral (sideways)
curvature of the spine.
How can you tell if I have
scoliosis?
Sometimes with scoliosis, the bones in
the spine rotate slightly. This makes the person’s waist or
shoulders appear uneven. The doctor will look for this when he
examines you. An x-ray will show if there is a curve, where it is,
and how large it is.
At what age does scoliosis develop?
Scoliosis is usually noticed during the
adolescent growth spurt; between the ages of 10 and 14 in girls and
12 and 14 in boys.
What causes scoliosis?
The majority of people with scoliosis
(85 percent) have what is known as “idiopathic” scoliosis.
“Idiopathic” means “no known cause”. Idiopathic scoliosis may appear
at any age, but is most commonly detected during adolescent growth
spurts.
There are several less common types of
scoliosis, which do have a known cause. These curves may be due to
defects of spinal vertebrae already present at birth (congenital
scoliosis), disorders of the central nervous system (cerebral
palsy), muscle diseases (muscular dystrophy), disorders of
connective tissue (Marfan’s syndrome), and chromosome abnormalities
(Down’s syndrome).
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Is scoliosis a rare condition?
No. Although you may not know anyone
with scoliosis, one in every ten persons has some degree of curving
of the spine.
Does scoliosis run in families?
Yes, idiopathic scoliosis frequently
runs in families and may be due to genetic or hereditary influences.
Will I have back pain because of my
scoliosis?
Adolescents with scoliosis typically
are no more likely to have back pain than their peers without
scoliosis. In later years, people with scoliosis have a slightly
greater chance of developing arthritis and may have more back pain.
Why does my scoliosis need to be
treated if it is hardly noticeable and I don’t have any pain?
Scoliosis is treated to prevent the
curve from getting worse. If left untreated, your curve might
progress and become so severe that you might have obvious physical
deformity, back pain, and (in very severe cases) heart and lung
problems.
What factors determine treatment for
scoliosis?
Several different factors determine
treatment of scoliosis, and your doctor will look at each of these
factors to decide what is best for you. These factors are: age in
years, bone age (your bones don’t always mature at the same rate as
the rest of you), degree of curvature, location of curve in the
spine, status of menses/puberty, sex of the patient, rate of
worsening of the curve over time.
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What is the recommended treatment
for scoliosis?
There are different types of
treatments, depending on how severely your spine is curved. Your
doctor will determine what type of treatment is right for you after
looking at you and your X-rays. In ninety percent of cases,
scoliotic curves are mild and do not require active treatment.
Patients with mild curves will still need to make return visits for
examination and X-rays to make sure that their curve is not getting
worse. Patients with moderate curves may need to wear a brace.
Surgery may be necessary for patients with severe curves.
A rule of thumb is that doctors watch
patients with a curve measuring less than 30 degrees, brace patients with
curves measuring greater than 30 degrees, and look at surgery for patients with curves
greater than 50 degrees. Remember that your doctor will take ALL factors
into account when recommending a treatment plan for you.
Will wearing a brace make my spine
straight?
No. Braces will not make the spine
straight, but they are sometimes effective in preventing a curve
from getting worse.
How does brace treatment work?
The brace pushes against the spine to
prevent a curve from increasing during active skeletal growth.
Braces are effective in halting curve progression in many skeletally
immature adolescents, but they cannot always keep a curve from
progressing.
Can carrying a heavy book bag at
school make my scoliosis worse?
No, there is no evidence that carrying
a heavy book bag causes scoliosis or makes an existing scoliosis
worse. Most adolescents only carry their bags to and from school and
between classes, which is typically only about 20 to 30 minutes per
day.
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Does poor posture cause scoliosis?
Poor posture does not cause scoliosis.
Can a lack of calcium cause
scoliosis?
A lack of calcium does not cause
scoliosis. However, adolescents need 1200-1500 mg of calcium per day
to prevent osteoporosis later in life.
Can I exercise with scoliosis?
Yes! There are no activity limitations
needed because of scoliosis. You are at no greater risk of injury
from sports/exercise than your peers without scoliosis.
Would it help to see a chiropractor?
There is no scientific evidence that
chiropractic manipulation of the spine will correct scoliosis.
Are there any exercises or physical
therapy that will help my scoliosis?
There are no exercises or physical
therapy that will correct scoliosis.
Are there any scoliosis clubs or
organizations?
Yes, there are several. See Scoliosis
References and Resources for more information.
If you have any questions about
scoliosis, please write them down and bring them to your next
appointment, or call the clinic nurse at 832-822-0810.
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