Scoliosis is a deformity of the spine that appears collected as an alteration since ancient times, being already described by Hippocrates (460-370 BC) in his Corpus Hippocraticum. The term scoliosis was coined by Galen (131-201 A.D.), referring to the Greek word “scolios”, whose meaning is curvature.
Although it is usually associated with periods of rapid growth and development in childhood and youth age, scoliosis also occurs in adults, resulting in aging and degenerative changes, in addition to being caused by diseases, conditions, or accidents.
A deformity of the spine can be invalidated in cases where the curvature is more exaggerated and can cause more pain and even difficulties when breathing. The incidence of scoliosis is 6% in men and between 10 and 14% in women, being 80% of idiopathic type or scoliosis without known cause.
What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a problem in the curvature of the spine, presenting an abnormal and pronounced lateral curvature. And it is that almost all people have a small natural deviation, only those most marked cases and in those in which the column takes the form of an S or C are considered scoliosis.
Scoliosis is not a disease but a structural alteration of the patient that can be measured and studied radiologically and clinically. Thus, to be diagnosed as scoliosis, the coronal plane measurement must exceed 10 degrees.
Scoliosis often appears more frequently in the pre-decoration growth period, being diagnosed in children and adolescents. In most cases, scoliosis is usually mild, although there are a small number of cases in which the deformity of the spine gets worse as the patient grows, even becoming incapacitating. Monitoring the growth process for children affected by mild scoliosis is essential for possible complications.
Causes
The causes of scoliosis vary depending on the type of scoliosis that is suffered, in addition to age. Thus, according to the cause, scoliosis may be:
Neuromuscular: the deformity of the spine is due to neurological or musculoskeletal pathologies such as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, or myelomeningocele.
Congenital: This type of scoliosis is usually common in young children, with an asymmetry in the development of vertebrae.
Idiopathic: This is one of the most frequent and characterized by not having a specific cause.
Symptoms of scoliosis
The most obvious signs of the disease are the curvature of the spine, in addition to the irregularities that the bone structure can present when this deviation is found. In some cases, other symptoms may also appear that dent the quality of life of those suffering from this deformity. Thus, among the most outstanding signs and complications we find:
– Back pain from the wear and tear of the vertebrae.
– Tiredness and heaviness.
– Differences in the height of shoulders and hips, are the origin of deformities.
– Low self-esteem for treatments that sometimes need to be carried as, for example, corsets.
– Damage to the spinal nerves.
– Breath-type problems in cases of more pronounced curvature.
Types of scoliosis
In addition to its causes, scoliosis can also be classified by the patient’s age group. Thus, idiopathic scoliosis, that is, the one in which its last cause is not known, can be classified as:
- Children, one that affects children under three years of age.
- Juvenile, which affects children between the ages of 4 and 9.
- Adolescent or late submission, which affects children 10 years of age or older, accounts for approximately 80-85% of cases.
Another classification attentive to the duration of the disease refers to two types of scoliosis:
- Structural, i.e. the one that is caused by a disease, a blow or accident, an infection, or a birth defect.
- Non-structural, curvature is temporary and can be corrected with a treatment.
Treatments for scoliosis:
The medical diagnosis of scoliosis must be the most complete to establish the degree of deviation of the spine and to determine whether surgery is required or not, something that is usually common in the case of congenital scoliosis.
After a series of physical tests showing the degree of curvature of the spine, in addition to the leveling of the shoulders and the degree of inclination of the pelvis radiological tests confirm these first impressions. Another test is a scoliometer, an instrument that is placed on the patient’s back when crouched and also shows whether there is a level and asymmetry in the patient’s back.
Once the diagnosis has been made, appropriate treatment is determined for the type of scoliosis and the patient. Thus, in the case of idiopathic scoliosis, it may be necessary to follow up to check evolution. In children of growth and developmental age, the use of a corset may also be recommended to prevent the spine from being diverted.
Finally, in the most serious cases, surgery is usually advised to correct the curvature caused by scoliosis. After the operation, it is usually also necessary to take a corset to a complete recovery.
Disclaimers: This information does not in any case replace the diagnosis or prescription by a doctor. It is important to go to a specialist when symptoms occur in case of illness and never self-medicate.