Scoliosis
Medical Author: Jason C. Eck, DO, MS
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a disorder that causes an abnormal curve of the spine, or
backbone. The spine has normal curves when looking from the side, but it should
look straight when looking from the front. People with scoliosis develop
additional curves to either side, and the bones twist on each other like a
corkscrew.
Scoliosis is about two times more common in girls than boys. It can be seen
at any age, but it is most common in those over 10 years old.
What causes scoliosis?
In most cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown (idiopathic). This type of
scoliosis is described based on the age when scoliosis develops. If the patient
is less than 3 years old, it is called infantile idiopathic scoliosis. Scoliosis
that develops between 3 and 10 years of age is called juvenile idiopathic scoliosis,
and patients that are over 10 years old have adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
There are two other types of scoliosis:
Functional: In this type of scoliosis, the spine is normal, but an abnormal
curve develops because of a problem somewhere else in the body. This could be
caused by one leg being shorter than the other or by muscle spasms in the back.
Neuromuscular: In this type of scoliosis, there is a problem when the bones of
the spine are formed. Either the bones of the spine fail to form completely, or
they fail to separate from each other. This type of scoliosis develops in
patients with other disorders including birth defects, muscular dystrophy,
cerebral palsy, or Marfan's disease. This type of scoliosis is often much more
severe and needs more aggressive treatment than other forms of scoliosis.
Next: What are the symptoms of scoliosis? »
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