What is pediatric scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person’s spine abnormally curves
sideways or rotates. Scoliosis can range from mild to severe. Patients with mild
scoliosis may only need to have frequent monitoring from their doctor. Those
with more severe cases may need braces or surgery.
Who gets pediatric scoliosis?
About 2% of the population is affected by scoliosis. Scoliosis can affect
people of any age, but it is most common in adolescents.
What are the different types of pediatric scoliosis?
There are three different types of pediatric scoliosis:
Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common type of scoliosis. It is
"idiopathic," meaning its cause is unknown, but because it runs in families, it
has a genetic basis.
Congenital scoliosis is a fairly rare spine abnormality detected at birth.
Neuromuscular scoliosis is a curvature of the spine caused by abnormalities
in the muscles and nerves that support the spine. Examples include patients with
cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy.
What are the symptoms of pediatric scoliosis?
Scoliosis usually causes no pain, so symptoms can often go unnoticed. Parents
or caregivers should watch for the following signs:
- Uneven shoulders
- Constant leaning to one side
- Uneven leg length
- Prominent shoulder blade or shoulder blades
- An uneven waist
- Elevated hips
If you notice any of these signs in you child, you should contact your doctor
for screening.
How is pediatric scoliosis diagnosed?
If you or a caregiver or teacher thinks your child may have scoliosis, you
should contact your doctor as soon as possible. The doctor should also be
screening for scoliosis on a regular basis and may be the first to suspect the
condition.
An evaluation for scoliosis has several steps. Your doctor will usually begin
with a thorough history to determine if there is a family history of scoliosis.
The history will also be used to screen for birth defects or trauma that may
explain the curvature of the spine.
The doctor will then conduct a physical examination of your child's back,
chest, pelvis, legs, feet, and skin. The doctor will be looking to see if his or
her shoulders are level, whether the head is centered, and whether opposite
sides of the body look level.
He or she will then ask the child to bend forward so that the back muscles
can be examined and to see if one side of the rib cage is higher than the other.