| What do Elizabeth Taylor, Renee Ruso, Isabella | | | | you or someone you love has scoliosis. If you |
| Rossellini, and Linda Blair all have in common? | | | | notice any one or more of these signs, you |
| Aside from the obvious fact that they are | | | | should schedule an exam with a doctor: |
| popular and gorgeous celebrities, these women | | | | · Shoulders are different heights; one |
| suffer from a back problem called scoliosis. | | | | shoulder blade is more prominent than the other |
| Scoliosis is a medical condition that is characterized | | | | · The head is not centered directly above |
| by the presence of curvatures and deformities in | | | | the pelvis |
| the spine. Unlike poor posture, these curves can | | | | · Appearance of a raised, prominent hip |
| not be corrected by simply learning to stand up | | | | · Rib cages are at different heights |
| straight. | | | | · Changes in look or texture of skin overlying |
| Scoliosis affects a small percentage of the | | | | the spine like dimples, hairy patches, color changes |
| population, or approximately two percent. | | | | · Uneven waist |
| However, scoliosis runs in families. If someone in | | | | · Leaning of entire body to one side |
| the family has scoliosis, the likelihood of an | | | | If someone is suspected with scoliosis, it is usually |
| incidence is approximately 20 percent. Scoliosis in | | | | confirmed with an x-ray, spinal radiograph, CT |
| skeletally immature individuals is classified by age: | | | | scan, MRI or bone scan of the spine. The curve is |
| infantile (0 to 3 years); juvenile (3 to 10 years); | | | | then measured by the Cobb Method and is |
| and adolescent (over 11 years, or from onset of | | | | discussed in terms of degrees. The Cobb method |
| puberty until skeletal maturity). In addition, scoliosis | | | | has several advantages over other methods, |
| is classified by etiology: congenital, idiopathic or | | | | including the fact that it is more likely to be |
| neuromuscular. | | | | consistent even when the patient is measured by |
| Congenital scoliosis results from embryological | | | | several different examiners. An alternative |
| malformation of one or more vertebrae and may | | | | system, known as the Risser-Ferguson method, is |
| occur in any location of the spine. This is due to a | | | | used far less commonly. Generally, a curve is |
| problem with the formation of vertebrae or fused | | | | considered significant if it is greater than 25 to 30 |
| ribs during prenatal development. The vertebral | | | | degrees. Curves exceeding 45 to 50 degrees are |
| anomalies cause curvature and other deformities | | | | considered severe and often require more |
| of the spine and lead to differential growth. This | | | | aggressive treatment. |
| means that one area of the spinal column | | | | The traditional medical management of scoliosis is |
| lengthens at a slower rate than the remainder. | | | | determined by the severity of the curvature, |
| Because these anomalies are present at birth, | | | | skeletal maturity, and likelihood of progression. |
| congenital scoliosis is usually detected at a | | | | The conventional options are initially through |
| younger age than is idiopathic scoliosis. | | | | observation, followed by bracing and surgery. |
| Idiopathic scoliosis refers to a spinal curve for | | | | Most cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis that |
| which there is no discernible cause, and it typically | | | | are less than 20 degrees require no treatment, |
| occurs in children and adolescents who are | | | | but should be checked often around every 6 |
| otherwise healthy. It is of unknown cause, and | | | | months. As curves get worse which is above 25 |
| appears in a previously straight spine. | | | | to 30 degrees, bracing is usually recommended to |
| Neuromuscular scoliosis is caused by problems | | | | help slow the progression of the curve. Curves |
| such as poor muscle control or muscular | | | | that are greater than 40 degrees usually require |
| weakness or paralysis due to diseases such as | | | | surgery because curves this large have a high risk |
| cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, | | | | of getting worse even after bone growth stops. |
| and polio. It encompasses scoliotic spine | | | | Scoliosis is a common problem that usually |
| deformities that are secondary to neurologic or | | | | requires only observation with repeated |
| muscular diseases. Etiologies of this type of | | | | examination in the growing years. Still, early |
| scoliosis include cerebral palsy, spinal cord trauma, | | | | detection is important to make sure the curve |
| muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, and | | | | does not progress. In the relatively small |
| myelomeningocele. Spinal deformities that result | | | | percentage of scoliosis that need medical |
| from neuromuscular etiologies generally progress | | | | intervention, advances in modern orthopedic |
| more rapidly than idiopathic scoliosis and are more | | | | techniques have made scoliosis a highly |
| difficult to manage non-surgically. | | | | manageable condition. |
| There are several "warning signs" to determine if | | | | |