Scoliosis is a disorder that causes the spine to abnormally curve to the right or left. Around 3 million cases of scoliosis are diagnosed each year in the United States. It is the most common spinal deformity in children.
Symptoms:
Most scoliosis cases are mild with no noticeable pain or discomfort. However, there are some signs of scoliosis that should be watched for.
The following are indicators that scoliosis may be present or developing in a child’s spine:
- Lopsided or uneven shoulders
- One shoulder blade protrudes more than the other
- Uneven waist
- One hip rises higher than the other
- In severe cases, the spine rotates as well as curving to the left or right. This leads the ribs to protrude further out on one side.
Causes:
The cause of scoliosis is unknown. However, several factors may lead to higher risk of developing scoliosis.
A child may be more likely to get scoliosis if:
- They were born with a spinal birth defect
- A family member has scoliosis, especially the mom or dad
- They have broken a bone, experienced radiation or surgery of the spine
- They have a disease that causes difficulty controlling their muscles (polio, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy)
For a comprehensive evaluation from the experts at Brain2Spine Institute, call 727-828-8400.
