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 appear straight when looking from the front. Kyphosis is a curve seen from the side in which the spine is bent forward. Lordosis is a curve seen from the side in which the spine is bent backward. People with scoliosis develop additional curves to either side, and the bones of the spine 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. Scoliosis is hereditary in that people with scoliosis are more likely to have children with scoliosis; however, there is no correlation between the severity of the curve from one generation to the next.
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 person
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 people that are over 10 years old have adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
There are three other main 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
people with other disorders including birth defects, muscular dystrophy,
cerebral palsy, or Marfan's disease. If the curve is present at birth, it is called congenital. This type of scoliosis is often much more
severe and needs more aggressive treatment than other forms of scoliosis.
Degenerative: Unlike the other forms of scoliosis that are found in children and teens, degenerative scoliosis occurs in older adults. It is caused by changes in the spine due to arthritis. Weakening of the normal ligaments and other soft tissues of the spine combined with abnormal bone spurs can lead to an abnormal curvature of the spine.
Others: There are other potential causes of scoliosis, including spine tumors such as osteoid osteoma. This is a benign tumor that can occur in the spine and cause pain. The pain causes people to lean to the opposite side to reduce he amount of pressure applied to the tumor. This can lead to a spinal deformity.
Next: What are the symptoms of scoliosis? »
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