Scoliosis in Children

Scoliosis in children

is an abnormal lateral curve of the spine when compared to a normal spine. When looked from backwards, our spine should look straight whilst a side-on view would look in a S-shape. Our spine is nothing but a block of bones orderly structured one over the other. But in scoliosis, this order is not proper, ergo the abnormal curvature.

Scoliosis in Children:

One thing to understand about scoliosis is that a poor posture is not what causes it. In almost 80 percent of the cases, this condition is idiopathic, meaning the actual cause is unknown.

• Usually children with scoliosis, do not have any evident problems or symptoms as such, thus avoiding the need for a surgery. But in a few, the curvature might progress creating the need for treatment. If detected early though, any problem that could lead to disability can be avoided.
• Both boys and girls are known to get equally effected, although the progression of the curve is more evident in girls when compared to boys.

Types of Scoliosis:

Based on the age when a child develops scoliosis, the classification can be done into three types-

• infantile idiopathic scoliosis – develops below the age of 3
• juvenile idiopathic scoliosis – develops between the ages 3-10
• adolescent idiopathic scoliosis – develops after the age 10

Based on the changes that occur in the spine and the spinal bone growth, scoliosis can be further classified into three types-

• 
  

  Functional.

  Although the spine is normal in this case, the abnormal curvature is due to another bodily disorder like difference in leg lengths, slipped disc et.

• 
  

  Neuromuscular.

  This is due to a problem with the formation of spinal bones. Either they do not form properly or they do not get separated form each other properly.

• 
  

  Degenerative.

  This problem is mostly found in adults who develop degenerative diseases like arthritis.

Scoliosis in children

does not need any treatment unless and until the curvature of the spine remains below 20 degrees. Any curvature above 30 degrees are to corrected either with the help of braces or a surgery.