Scoliosis

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine to one side. In people with the condition, the spine bends either to the left or right. The curvature in the spine can vary from being slight to severe.

The bend can occur at any point along the spine, from the top to the bottom. However, the most common regions to be affected by scoliosis are:

• the chest area (thoracic scoliosis)
• the lower part of the back (lumbar scoliosis)

In about 80% of scoliosis cases, the cause is unknown. This is known as idiopathic.

Who is affected by scoliosis?

In the UK, scoliosis affects three to four children out of every 1,000. The condition can develop at any time during childhood and adolescence (the teenage years). Scoliosis is more common in girls than boys and often occurs at the start of adolescence.
 

Outlook

Treatment is not required in about 90% of cases of scoliosis because the condition corrects itself as the child grows.

Most of the remaining 10% of cases can be successfully treated using a back brace to prevent further curvature. Approximately 3 out of every 1,000 children with scoliosis will need surgical treatment.

Scoliosis is usually not serious, but treatment is essential. Left untreated, the curvature of the spine can get worse and cause damage to the spine, chest, pelvis, heart and lungs.

Glossary

Lungs

Lungs are a pair of organs in the chest that control breathing. They remove carbon dioxide from the blood and replace it with oxygen.

Spine

The spine supports the skeleton and surrounds and protects the delicate spinal cord and nerves. It is made up of 33 bones called the vertebrae.