It can cause the spine to look like an “s” shape or a “c” shape. “Scoliosis in the simplest of terms is a curvature of the spine and specifically it means a side-to-side curvature,” said Dr. Arun Hariharan, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff of Lee Health.
But pediatric orthopedic surgeons say, there are also more mild cases of scoliosis that can be more difficult to diagnose. “It’s really important to distinguish that there are so many different types of scoliosis. The most common one you see is the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and that’s the teenager that gets it. One-shoulder being higher than the other,” he said.
Scoliosis is typically caused by genetics and worsens as the child is growing. “There are certain cases where it’s not idiopathic scoliosis, but there are congenital, neuromuscular, or traumatic cases, where we know that it’s caused by certain muscle imbalances or genetic problems within that condition,” said Dr. Hariharan.
While some children may just need their condition monitored, others may need treatment like a brace or surgery. “The severe curves is when we really need to talk about surgery. When it gets past a certain number of degrees, and we measure those degrees off an x-ray, patients start to experience trouble with their heart and lungs and overall function as far as standing,” he explained.
Making it important to notice any changes early to ensure children get the treatment they need.
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