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Questions and Answers About Scoliosis
This fact sheet defines scoliosis and provides information about how it is diagnosed and treated in children and adolescents. You may be interested in contacting one or more of the organizations referenced at the end of the fact sheet for more information.
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine, or backbone. The bones that make up the spine are called vertebrae. Some people who have scoliosis require treatment. Other people, who have milder curves, may only need to visit their doctor for periodic observation. The section "Does Scoliosis Have To Be Treated?" describes how doctors decide whether or not to treat scoliosis.
People of all ages can have scoliosis, but this fact sheet focuses on children and adolescents. Of every 1,000 children, 3 to 5 develop spinal curves that are considered large enough to need treatment. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (scoliosis of unknown cause) is the most common type and occurs after the age of 10. Girls are more likely than boys to have this type of scoliosis.
Since scoliosis can run in families, a child who has a parent, brother, or sister with idiopathic scoliosis should be checked regularly for scoliosis by the family physician.
Idiopathic scoliosis can also occur in children younger than 10 years of age, but is very rare. Early onset or infantile idiopathic scoliosis occurs in children less than 3 years old. It is more common in Europe than in the United States. Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis occurs in children between the ages of 3 and 10.
In 80 to 85 percent of people, the cause of scoliosis is unknown; this is called idiopathic scoliosis. Before concluding that a person has idiopathic scoliosis, the doctor looks for other possible causes, such as injury or infection. Causes of curves are classified as either nonstructural or structural.
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Nonstructural (functional) scoliosis:
A structurally normal spine that appears curved. This is a temporary,
changing curve. It is caused by an underlying condition such as a difference
in leg length, muscle spasms, or inflammatory conditions such as
appendicitis. Doctors treat this type of scoliosis by correcting the
underlying problem. |
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Structural scoliosis: A fixed curve that doctors treat case by case. Sometimes structural scoliosis is one part of a syndrome or disease, such as Marfan's syndrome, an inherited connective tissue disorder. In other cases it occurs by itself. Structural scoliosis can be caused by neuromuscular diseases (such as cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, or muscular dystrophy), birth defects (such as hemivertebra, in which one side of a vertebra fails to form normally before birth), injury, certain infections, tumors (such as those caused by neurofibromatosis, a birth defect sometimes associated with benign tumors on the spinal column), metabolic diseases, connective tissue disorders, rheumatic diseases, or unknown factors (idiopathic scoliosis). |
How Does the Doctor Diagnose Scoliosis?
The doctor takes the following steps to evaluate a patient for scoliosis:
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Medical history: The doctor talks
to the patient and the patient's parent or parents and reviews the patient's
records to look for medical problems that might be causing the spine to
curve; for example, birth defects, trauma, or other disorders that can be
associated with scoliosis. |
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Physical examination: The doctor
looks at the patient's back, chest, pelvis, legs, feet, and skin. The doctor
checks if the patient's shoulders are level, whether the head is centered,
and whether opposite sides of the body look level. The doctor also examines
the back muscles while the patient is bending forward to see if one side of
the rib cage is higher than the other. If there is a significant asymmetry
(difference between opposite sides of the body), the doctor will refer the
patient to an orthopedic spine specialist (a doctor who has experience
treating people with scoliosis). Certain changes in the skin, such as
so-called cafe au lait spots, can suggest that the scoliosis is caused by a
birth defect. |
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X-ray evaluation: Patients with
significant spinal curves, unusual back pain, or signs of involvement of the
central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) such as bowel and bladder
control problems need to have an X ray. The X ray should be done with the
patient standing with his or her back to the x-ray machine. The view is of
the entire spine on one long (36-inch) film. Occasionally, doctors ask for
more tests to see if there are other problems. |
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Curve measurement: The doctor measures the curve on the x-ray image. He or she finds the vertebrae at the beginning and end of the curve and measures the angle of the curve. Curves that are greater than 20 degrees require treatment. |
Doctors group curves of the spine by their location, shape, pattern, and cause. They use this information to decide how best to treat the scoliosis.
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Location: To identify a curve's
location, doctors find the apex of the curve (the vertebra within the curve
that is the most off-center); the location of the apex is the "location" of
the curve. A thoracic curve has its apex in the thoracic area (the part of
the spine to which the ribs attach). A lumbar curve has its apex in the
lower back. A thoracolumbar curve has its apex where the thoracic and lumbar
vertebrae join. |
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Shape: The curve usually is S- or
C-shaped. |
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Pattern: Curves frequently follow patterns that have been studied in previous patients. The larger the curve is, the more likely it will progress (depending on the amount of growth remaining). |
Does Scoliosis Have To Be Treated? What Are the Treatments?
Many children who are sent to the doctor by a school scoliosis screening program have very mild spinal curves that do not need treatment. When a child does need treatment, the doctor may send him or her to an orthopedic spine specialist.
The doctor will suggest the best treatment for each patient based on the patient's age, how much more he or she is likely to grow, the degree and pattern of the curve, and the type of scoliosis. The doctor may recommend observation, bracing, or surgery.
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Observation: Doctors follow
patients without treatment and re-examine them every 4 to 6 months when the
patient is still growing (is skeletally immature) and has an idiopathic
curve of less than 25 degrees. |
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Bracing: Doctors advise patients to wear a brace to stop a curve from getting any worse when the patient:
As a child nears the end of growth, the
indications for bracing will depend on how the curve affects the child's
appearance, whether the curve is getting worse, and the size of the curve. |
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Surgery: Doctors advise patients to have surgery to correct a curve or stop it from worsening when the patient is still growing, has a curve that is more than 45 degrees, and has a curve that is getting worse. |
Are There Other Ways To Treat Scoliosis?
Some people have tried other ways to treat scoliosis, including manipulation by a chiropractor, electrical stimulation, dietary supplements, and corrective exercises. So far, studies of the following treatments have not been shown to prevent curve progression, or worsening:
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Chiropractic manipulation |
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Electrical stimulation |
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Nutritional supplementation
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Exercise:(Studies have shown that exercise alone will not stop progressive curves. However, patients may wish to exercise for the effects on their general health and well being.) |
The decision about which brace to wear depends on the type of curve and whether the patient will follow the doctor's directions about how many hours a day to wear the brace.
There are two main types of braces. Braces can be custom made or can be made from a pre-fabricated mold. All must be selected for the specific curve problem and fitted to each patient. To have their intended effect (to keep a curve from getting worse), braces must be worn every day for the full number of hours prescribed by the doctor until the child stops growing.
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Milwaukee brace: Patients can wear
this brace to correct any curve in the spine. This brace has a neck ring. |
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Thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO): Patients can wear this brace to correct curves whose apex is at or below the eighth thoracic vertebra. The TLSO is an underarm brace, which means that it fits under the arm and around the rib cage, lower back, and hips. |
If the Doctor Recommends Surgery, Which Procedure Is Best?
Many surgical techniques can be used to correct the curves of scoliosis. The main surgical procedure is correction, stabilization, and fusion of the curve. Fusion is the joining of two or more vertebrae. Surgeons can choose different ways to straighten the spine and also different implants to keep the spine stable after surgery. (Implants are devices that remain in the patient after surgery to keep the spine aligned.) The decision about the type of implant will depend on the cost; the size of the implant, which depends on the size of the patient; the shape of the implant; its safety; and the experience of the surgeon. Each patient should discuss their options with at least two experienced surgeons.
Patients and parents who are thinking about surgery may want to ask the following questions:
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What are the benefits from surgery for
scoliosis? |
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What are the risks from surgery for
scoliosis? |
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What techniques will be used for the
surgery? |
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What devices will be used to keep the
spine stable after surgery? |
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Where will the incisions be made? |
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How straight will the patient's spine be
after surgery?
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How long will the hospital stay be? |
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How long will it take to recover from
surgery?
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Is there chronic back pain after surgery
for scoliosis? |
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Will the patient's growth be limited? |
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How flexible will the spine remain?
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Can the curve worsen or progress after
surgery? |
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Will additional surgery be likely? |
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Will the patient be able to do all the things he or she wants to do following surgery? |
Can People with Scoliosis Exercise?
Exercise does not make scoliosis worse. In fact, it is very important for all people, including those with scoliosis, to exercise and remain physically fit. Girls have a higher risk than boys of developing osteoporosis (a disorder that results in weak bones that can break easily) later in life. The risk of osteoporosis is reduced in women who exercise regularly all their lives; and weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, running, soccer, and gymnastics, increases bone density and helps prevent osteoporosis. For both boys and girls, exercising and participating in sports also improves their general sense of well being.
What Are Researchers Trying To Find Out About Scoliosis?
Researchers are looking for the cause of idiopathic scoliosis. They have studied genetics, growth, structural and biochemical alterations in the discs and muscles, and central nervous system changes. The changes in the discs and muscles seem to be a result of scoliosis and not the cause. Scientists are still hopeful that studying changes in the central nervous system in people with idiopathic scoliosis may reveal a cause of this disorder.
Researchers continue to examine how a variety of braces, surgical procedures, and surgical instruments can be used to straighten the spine or to prevent further curvature. They are also studying the long-term effects of a scoliosis fusion and the long-term effects of untreated scoliosis.
Where Can People Get More Information About Scoliosis?
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National Scoliosis Foundation |
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The Scoliosis Association, Inc. |
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The Scoliosis Research Society |
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American Physical Therapy Association |
The NIAMS gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Dr. Stuart Weinstein, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Iowa, in the preparation and review of this fact sheet, and Dr. John Lonstein, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, and Dr. James Panagis, NIAMS, in the review of this fact sheet.
The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NAMSIC) is a public service sponsored by the NIAMS that provides health information and information sources. The NIAMS, a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), leads the Federal medical research effort in arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases. The NIAMS sponsors research and research training throughout the United States as well as on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, and disseminates health and research information.
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