Scoliosis

Scoliosis is not a disease, but it is a téterm used to describe any abnormal curvature, to the sides of the spine.

Seen from the backás, a spine típica is straight. When scoliosis occurs, the curve of the spine can vary in one of three ways:

• Spine aside as a single curve to the left (shaped letter C), called levoscoliosis.
• The spine to the side as a single curve to the right (shaped like an inverted letter C), called dextroescoliosis.
• The spine has two curves (in the shape of the letter S).

Idiop Scoliosisática

It is artíass focuses in the form más común, idiop scoliosisática, what happens in about the 2% of the populationón. The témino idiopático means a conditionón or disease that has no known cause.

idiop scoliosisáethics is by far the causeás común of scoliosis in boysños. (Degenerative scoliosis is the form más común of scoliosis in adults.)

idiop scoliosisátick rarely causes pain, and in the majoríIn most cases the curve is lower enough to be considered an asymmetry.ía and does not require anyúno treatment. Nevertheless, once scoliosis is detected it should be closely monitored by a professional méUseful in case curve progresses and treatment is needed.

Because the skeletons of niñaxis jóAdult come grow rápiously, there is a reasonable chance that if a spinal curve is detected, the grade may get worse as the spine continues to grow.

In those cases, scoliosis treatment may be advisable. Rarely (at 0,2 al 0,5 % of all cases), untreated scoliosis may progress to obstruct space in the chest cageácica necessary for the heartón and optimal functioning of the lungs.

It is important to note that idiop scoliosisátic is not caused by some activity such as exercise, the sport, or carry heavy objects; nor does it come from the positionón, sleeping posture, the littleñdifferences in leg length.

Detect usón, DiagnóStatic and Monitoring

scoliosis más títypically occurs in individuals of 10 a 18 años of age and is frequently detected by exáschool children or visits méregular tips. A professional méI say searchá:

• The curvature of the spine
• Uneven shoulders, or protrudedónot by a manóplato
• Asymmetricíto the waist
• A hip más taller than the other.

Once scoliosis is detected, the méI say continueá monitoring curvature. The to progressón of the curvature of the spine isá very well studied and is measured in degrees.

In a slight curvature that is kept in 20 degrees or less lo máIt is likely that it will require follow-up and observation.ón, but seldom neededás treatment.

In a curvature greater than 20 degrees may require interventionón don't wantúrgica or quirúrgica, including treatments such as a corsé ortopémedical for scoliosis or surgeryíto scoliosis  which to prevent the progressionón from the whore.

La preventionón severe curvature is important for the appearance níphysical and patient health. Curves greater than 50 degrees are más prone to progress in adulthood. If a curve is allowed to progress from 70 a 90 degrees, will occurá a disfiguring deformity.

A high degree of curvature spaghettién can put the patient in risk of cardiopulmonary compromise since the curvature of the spine rotates the chest and closes the space available for the lungs and heartón.

Scoliosis rarely causes back pain

It is important toñalarm that the results of idiop scoliosisática are the deformity of the spine, but it is not usually one of the causes of back pain.

Of course, people with scoliosis can develop back pain, like most of the populationón adult can develop back pain.

Nevertheless, It has never been found that people with idiop scoliosisática sean más more likely to develop back pain than the rest of the populationón.

Other types of scoliosis

Although adolescent scoliosis is the más común, there are other common types of scoliosis which include:

• cong scoliosisénita, what isá present in infants.
• Neuromuscular scoliosis, which is the result of neuromuscular conditions.
• Degenerative scoliosis, that is presented más ahead in life.

Sísymptoms of scoliosis

in neitherñchildren and teenagers, scoliosis often does not have sínoticeable symptoms. The curvature of the spine does not cause pain, and if it is mild, can go unnoticed.

While a healthy spine, when viewed from the side, has natural curvature, and when viewed from the back of the spine it appears as a líthe right one.

A person with scoliosis, Nevertheless, appears to have a side curve (from side to side) on your spine when viewed from the back.

Signs of scoliosis

Without an X-ray examination of the spine, there are several signs fícommon symptoms that may indicate scoliosis.

One of the testsás to detect scoliosis is called: “Adam's test or essay”, where the patient is asked to stand, bending forward with arms outstretched as if touching toes.

The professional méI mean to observeá thenón, looking for one or moreás of the following signs of scoliosis:

• One shoulder is más taller than the other
• a schoolápolish excels máI know the other
• One side of the tor boxácica appears más taller than the other
• A hip appears más alta o más prominent than the other
• The waist is irregular
• The body leans to one side
• One leg can be seen más shorter than the other
• Any type of back pain is not generally considered as a sísymptom of scoliosis.

Adam's test or essay

If there is pain you need más investigationón

pain is not aíapostle tíscoliosis peak. Back pain in a childño o adolescent who has scoliosis may indicate another problem and the childñor should be evaluated by a pediatrician and/or spinal specialist.

It is to himñor or adolescent has back pain and alsoédoes not have scoliosis, it is very important that éhe or she must see a méI say to find out the cause of the pain, as there is likely something other than scoliosis causing the back pain and may require treatment.

The girlsñace isánot at higher risk

The risk of progressionón of curvature increases during puberty, When the growth rate of the body is the más ráI ask.

Scoliosis with a significant curvature of the spine is much moreás frequent in girlsñso in the niños, and the girlsñthat's eight times más likely to need treatment for scoliosis, since they tend to have curves that have a higher probability of progression.ón.

Aún así, the biggestía of scoliosis cases are mild and do not require treatment.

neural painógico and numbness

Pain and/or numbness in the legñala una lesión neurológica, it is alsoén a sísymptom that occurs very rarely of scoliosis.

In this case, spinal curvature is caused by an injuryón of the méstay a tumor. I know themñare aware that scoliosis is caused by an injuryón in the spine are:

• The patient is a little más young, (8-11) than a patient youípeak scoliosis.
• The patient isá experiencing pain and numbness indicating compressionón neural.
• The tor curveácica or thoracolumbar tilting to the left (levoescoliosis)

A patient with any or a combinationón of theseísymptoms should receive diagnostic testsóstico, like magnetic resonanceética, to find out if there is a lesionón neurológift gic; if you haveí, immediate treatment is generally recommended.

Scoliosis treatment

Decisions about scoliosis treatment are based primarily on two factors:

• Skeletal maturityépatient ethics (O, rather, ¿cuámy youngerás growth can be expected)
• The degree of curvature of the spine.

Although the cause of idiop scoliosis is unknownática, the way scoliosis s curves behaveí it is well understood. In essence:

A lesser degree curvature in a patient nearing skeletal maturityética, treatment is unlikely.

Conversely, a patient nás young with a curve más big you will probably have a curve to continueá moving forward and beá treatment necessary.

There are three main options for treating adolescent scoliosis:

• Observedón
• Back supports
• the surgeryíto scoliosis

There are no exercises for scoliosis that have been shown to reduce or prevent curvature..

Nevertheless, exercise is highly recommended for both scoliosis and non-scoliosis patients, to keep the múback muscles, strong and flexible.

thenówe will not discuss the options no quirúrgicas for the treatment of scoliosis.

Observedón

Once scoliosis is detected, the observationón for a méI say is the next step. The méI say measureá the curve in degrees over certain periods of time on an agenda and takeá treatment decisions, basástanding in progressóno of curvature.

You doctor herón and tracking scoliosis curves

The orthopedic surgeonédico can order an x-rayía of the spine and use the “méall of cobb” – a témedical technicianón extremely accurate – to calculate the curvature of the spine and its progressionón.

The curves that are less than 10 degrees are not considered to diagnose scoliosis, but they are considered asymmetricíto the spine. These types of curves are extremely unlikely to progress and usually nothing is necessary.úno treatment, but the médoctor should continue to monitor the curve during regular checkups.

The curvas más allá from 20 a 30 degrees in a niñor growing should be observed at intervals of 4 a 6 months by an orthopedic surgeonédoctor with experience in scoliosis.

In a patient who continues to grow, it will be neededá treatment if the following factors areáno present:

• The curve of the spine progresses más de 5 degrees for a período tíobservation peakón.
• The curve of the spine has already reached 30 grades or más.
• If the curve progresses less than 5 degrees for a períset ear of observationón, the médoctor can determine that the curve is notá worsening rapidly enough to cause deformity, and treatment may not be necessary.

Back supports for scoliosis

Treatment of scoliosis in patients with progressing curves, the curves of más de 25 degrees in a patient with an immature skeleton (for instance, the niñace with around 11 a 13 añyou of age, and notñyou around 12 a 14 años) usually focus on wearing a back support.

Braces are not normally used in adolescents who already have a mature or near-mature skeleton. It is to himñor greater has a curve greater than 30 degrees and his skeleton isá almost ripe, on curvature is treated sóit with the observationón, as there is very little growth left and the use of a braceédico has little chance to do well.

These devices do not straighten the curve that is alreadyá gift. Instead, the goal of a back brace is to stop the progressionón of the curvature of the spine when the niñor keep growing.

He does not evenñthe deberá continue to use the device until it reaches skeletal maturityética. Once the patient stops growing, there is little chance of progressionón of a curve.

The curves that are greater than 50 degrees can continue to progress afterés of skeletal maturityética, so the goal of treatment with a back brace is to try to keep the childñor with a curvature of less than 50 grades to adulthood.

Assembling and using a back support

Working under the directionón of an orthopedic surgeonéI say, an orthopedist castá an orthopedic supportéI say to the patient. The supports are generally made of plastic.áThey are molded elastic and fit snugly around the body and are worn under clothing every day.ías. Some are worn overnight and some are worn ​​23 hours a dayía.

Although to the dayíAs of today, devices for scoliosis are moreás cóways than ever, todavíthey have a low acceptance rateóno for various reasons: the niñand adolescents feel different from their peersñeros when they have to use them, and in some cases they actually cause discomfort and perhaps shortness of breath.

The use of back supports in niñis key to its effectiveness. Studies clearly show that the moreás patients closely comply with their rémoan for prescribed use, the scoliosis curve has less progressionón.

There are two types of braces for scoliosis comúnly used:

The TLSO (Corsé of subjectionón thoraco-lumbo-sacral for scoliosis), which includes a popular model called Boston Brace, it's an orthopedic deviceémolded to the back that applies pressureón of three points to the curvature to avoid its progressionón. Can be worn under loose clothing, and it is usually used 23 hours a dayía.

This type of braceéscoliosis aid can be removed for swimming or sports.

The Corsé Charleston apply máwith presión against the curve, is used in norños. This type of braceédrug for scoliosis is used sóat night, while he niñor sleep.

Unfortunately, even with the right gadgets, some scoliosis spine curves followán your progress.

For these cases, especially if heñor is it too smallñO, the use of supportsún should continue to allow the childñor grow before fusióno of the spine.