Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. It can occur at any time during a child’s growth as the vertebrae rotate. Because our ribs are attached to our spine, this rotation results in the formation of a rib hump which children or their parents may notice as asymmetry around the shoulders, back or waist.

While this spinal condition is not life- or nerve-threatening, it can cause a severe deformity as well as pain and disability. It can also have a huge psychological impact, especially as the curve often becomes more noticeable and problematic during teenage years – a period of time where even more focus is placed on body image and being able to fit in at school.

Idiopathic scoliosis

Idiopathic scoliosis is when the spine is curved or twisted in an otherwise healthy person. It accounts for the vast majority of spinal curvatures (around 70-80%). The cause is unknown, though we do know that it’s not down to:

• Carrying heavy objects (such as school bags) on one shoulder
• Sports or physical activities
• Poor standing or sleeping postures
• A lack of calcium in the diet

There can be a genetic connection, but we also know that it’s never a result of anything the child, parents or carers did or failed to do.

It affects two or three children in every 1000 and it can develop at any time during childhood and adolescence. It’s more common in girls than boys, most commonly occurring at the start of adolescence.

Where the cause is unknown, there are four main treatment paths a patient is likely to go down:

1. If the patient has a mild curve, we’ll suggest a ‘watch and wait’ approach to see if the condition progresses.
2. If it does progress, or if a patient presents early with a curve, we might suggest using a brace. 
3. If the curve is severe, or could become significantly worse, we’ll recommend an operation to improve quality of life. This involves inserting screws and rods in the patient’s back to correct the curve.
4. For a very small number of patients, we’ll perform growth modulation. This is still very much an experimental form of treatment and will only be offered in rare cases where the patient meets very specific criteria.