Every woman my age thinks of two things when you hear the word scoliosis, standing in line in the nurses office to have your back checked every year in Middle School and the sister in Sixteen Candles trying to get a drink from the water fountain with her brace that came all the way up her neck. Things have changed dramatically over the last 20 years. Our kids are not checked for scoliosis in schools any more and advancements in braces have made it possible for most children with scoliosis to only wear a brace at night, as a matter of fact braces have changed so dramatically you would not even be able to tell if you saw someone wearing one.
What is scoliosis? Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spin that usually occurs before puberty and is more common in girls than boys. Curves can have a C or S shape to them. There are 3 types of scoliosis: Congenital, Neuromuscular and Idiopathic.
Congenital Scoliosis is present at birth and occurs in 1 in 10,000 births. Congenital Scoliosis can go undetected until adolescents and is sometimes tied to other health issues.
Neuromuscular Scoliosis is also present at birth and is generally tied to another problem like Spina Bifida or Cerebral Palsy. Neuromuscular Scoliosis is usually the underlying issue in children with other problems.
Idiopathic Scoliosis is the most common type of scoliosis, with an adolescent onset, Idiopathic Scoliosis has no known cause of onset. There may be a genetic connection to Idiopathic Scoliosis. It usually appears between ages 10-18 and most common in girls.
The spinal curve associated with all types of scoliosis continues to grow as the patient grows and stops when the patient stops growing, it is important for the child to be followed by an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon to determine the best course of treatment. Treatments have changed considerably and now the first course of treatment in curves less than 30 degrees is observation. If the curve is above 30 degrees and the patient is still growing, they will most likely be treated with a brace. Most braces now are small and worn on the trunk and can just be worn at night. If the curve is greater than 40 degrees this usually calls for surgery. The surgery consists of a spinal fusion to stop the progression of the scoliosis. The surgeon will place 2 rods on either side of the spine to correct the curve.
What can parents do? While there is no way to prevent scoliosis, parents can watch their children as they grow for signs of scoliosis. Making sure your child has an annual physical in which your pediatrician checks the curvature of your child’s spine is the best thing to do. If you have a family history of scoliosis it is important to share that information with your doctor. Check your child’s shoulders, uneven shoulders can be a symptom of scoliosis. Consult with a specialist, if you have a strong family history or continue to be concerned about the possibility of scoliosis in your child make an appointment with one of the Pediatric Orthopedic Spine Specialist at OrthoCarolina. Dr. Paloski is renowned for his treatment of patients with scoliosis. 
You can find more information about scoliosis through this patient education page at OrthoCarolina. To make an appointment with Dr. Paloski or another pediatric specialist at OrthoCarolina visit OrthoCarolina.com or by calling 704-323-2543. A special thank you to Trish Moody CPNP, MSN for taking the time to share all this great information with us about scoliosis.
