Scoliosis & Other Spinal Curvatures
Scoliosis is a medical term which indicates the spinal curvature of the sides. This is most commonly diagnosed in the adolescent group. However, the cause behind the rise of this condition in children is unknown. Generally, people with locomotor disabilities such as muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy have scoliosis.
Therefore, this is also called a neuromuscular disorder that can occur due to various spinal curvature medical conditions. If we talk about the spine of fit people, they have a curve near their shoulders and lower back.
In this article, we will help you get detailed information about this neuromuscular disorder and how to treat
Scoliosis & Other Spinal Curvatures in India. So, without any further ado, let's quickly dive into the medical world of scoliosis.
Types of Scoliosis and Other Spinal Curvatures
Scoliosis is most common in children of the 10 to 15 age group. Nonetheless, it can even affect both adults and infants. In this disorder, the spinal curve tends to bend 15 degrees or more than 50 degrees in different areas of the spine. Hence, this progressive disorder needs treatment immediately after being diagnosed.
Sadly, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) reveals that 80% of spine scoliosis goes unidentified. So, it is important to keep the symptoms in check to get medical help immediately after noticing. There are different types of scoliosis. All these types are categorized on the basis of age. They are:
- Idiopathic Scoliosis
Idiopathic scoliosis is perhaps the largest category of scoliosis. This term refers to those scoliosis cases with unidentified causes. This type of scoliosis can be further subdivided into four age groups.
- Infants: 0 to 3 years
- Juveniles: 4 to 10 years
- Adolescents: 11 to 18 years
- Adults: 18+ years
- Congenital Scoliosis
Congenital Scoliosis is a rare type of this neuromuscular disorder which exists from birth. The main cause of the presence of this type is partial development of the vertebrae before birth. It is so rare that only 1 in 10,000 newborns get diagnosed with the disorder.
Congenital scoliosis can also be subdivided into the following.
- Deficient vertebrae formation
- Vertebrae failure of detachment
- Compensatory Curves
- A mix of hemivertebrae and bars
- Myopathic Scoliosis
Myopathic or neuromuscular scoliosis occurs in children due to neurological and muscular diseases. It usually appears as a consequence of nerve or brain damage caused by injury or illness.
- Degenerative Scoliosis
Adult scoliosis typically happens after 65 years of age. Since degenerative changes in the spine cause it, it is known as degenerative scoliosis.
Symptoms
- Uneven shoulders and hips
- Uneven waist
- Rib cage swelling forward from one side
Causes
In most cases, physicians cannot detect the exact causes of scoliosis. Here are a few common causes of scoliosis:
- congenital disabilities
- genetic disorders
- neurological abnormalities
Complications
Although most people diagnosed with scoliosis have a mild disorder, still, this progressive disorder may become problematic.
People with severe scoliosis tend to suffer from breathing problems because of the pressing of the rib cage against the lungs.
People who already had scoliosis in their childhood can get chronic back pain. It is more common in people who have large abnormal curves that are left untreated since childhood.
As scoliosis deteriorates, the changes in the spine get more noticeable, including prominent ribs, uneven shoulders and hips, and shifting of the trunk and waist to the side. Consequently, people with scoliosis tend to become self-conscious about their looks.
Scoliosis & Other Spinal Curvatures in India
In order to treat scoliosis in both children and adults, there are three main types of medical procedures for
Scoliosis & Other Spinal Curvatures in India. What method the doctor will choose depends on some factors like age, sex, bone maturity, curve position, and severity.
Depending on these factors, the treatment of scoliosis is mainly done.
Braces
For patients with mild scoliosis, the physician only suggests a brace. A brace helps to prevent the spine curvature from worsening. However, this method does not cure the prevailing condition of scoliosis.
As part of the treatment, the patient has to keep on wearing the brace all day and night to make it more effective. Nonetheless, both children and adults can take this off in case of engaging in any activity.
Casting
Doctors may even use casting instead of recommending braces. It is mostly given to treat scoliosis in infants. Casting helps to retain the normal position of the spine of the infant while it grows up.
Since this is a product made with plaster of Paris, it gets worn out as time passes. Hence, the casting needs to be changed over a certain period of time.
Scoliosis Surgery
When scoliosis worsens and reaches its severe stage, the doctor mostly goes for scoliosis surgery. Spinal infusion is surgery for scoliosis where more than one vertebrae are attached to the new bone grafts.
Devices such as screws, hooks, metal rods, or metal wires are sometimes used to hold a portion of the spine. This helps to heal the bone.
Conclusion
Mostly the type of scoliosis is mild initially, but some curves tend to worsen as the child grows up. The worst is severe scoliosis which can even disable the affected child. A severe curve of the spine reduces the space of the chest to only make it problematic for the proper functioning of the lungs.
Children with mild scoliosis stay under close monitoring with the help of x-rays that show the current condition of the curves. There are many cases in which treatment is not that necessary other than wearing a brace. However, some children may have to undergo surgery to un-bend the severely affected curves. Whatever treatment the patient may need,
Scoliosis & Other Spinal Curvatures in India are easy and quick. So, you must visit a doctor if you see any symptoms of scoliosis.