Scoliosis is a deformity of the spine, which loses its straight shape.
This anomaly in the is usually detected in the first years of life. The simple observation of the child in a routine pediatric check-up allows us to determine this pathology.
The vertebral column, seen from behind, “loses its symmetry and when it is curved, one hip can also be seen higher or bulging than the other, one shoulder blade (or scapula) higher or more prominent than the other, one shoulder higher than the other”, he explains from the .
Also “an imbalance of the head that is not centered with respect to the hips, or standing, with the arms hanging, the space between one arm and the trunk is greater on one side than on the other”.
Causes of scoliosis
The origin of the vast majority of scoliosis detected in healthy children is of unknown origin. Spinal specialists point out that it could have a genetic origin that predisposes the child to the curvature appearing and also determines its progression.
On the other hand, there are scoliosis that are due to congenital malformations in the vertebrae or the consequence of other diseases such as neurofibromatosishe Marfan syndrome either neurological injuries, GEER experts explain.
What spinal specialists make clear is that the appearance of scoliosis has nothing to do with “the type of backpack, desks or mattress” used by the child. The cause of scoliosis “is in the individual, not in their environment,” they assert.
Scoliosis symptoms and treatments
Apart from the deformity that can be seen with the naked eye, in most cases scoliosis does not produce any symptoms, pain or functional limitations that prevent the patient from developing a normal life.
Only when the disease evolves and the degree of spinal deviation is very pronounced can pain or respiratory problems appear.
Regarding treatment, the experts from the Vertebral Column Society explain that everything will depend on “the type and degree of the curve, the age of the child and the years of growth that remain until skeletal maturity.”
Follow-up
In cases where the curvature of the back is not very pronounced, it is best to monitor the patient to see if there is progression of the deformity.
In these cases, GEER emphasizes that “there is no consensus regarding the effectiveness of the physiotherapy treatments or other specialties such as chiropractors, as they do not seem to have uniform or reliably reproducible results”.
What spine specialists do recommend is that the patient with scoliosis perform some physical activity on a routine basis. Swimming or exercises to strengthen the back are the most recommended for this type of pathology.
When to wear a corset
When the curvature of the back is greater than 20 or 35º, the corset is the best option to contain the evolution of scoliosis.
But spinal specialists clarify that the corset it only has “the ability to prevent the curves from getting worse, but there is no method, other than surgery, that corrects and rectifies the curve.”
Surgery to correct the curvature of the back
It is the last option for the treatment of scoliosis, specifically, the most serious cases, severe curves of more than 50º, or those cases in which this pathology is affecting the functionality of the patient or respiratory capacity.
Scoliosis surgical techniques have come a long way. In recent days, the service has successfully performed a surgical intervention to correct severe scoliosis, of more than 90º, using for its planning a new technology for imaging without radiation for the patient.
This novel technique, as pointed out by Dr. Teresa Bass, coordinator of the Spine Unit of La Fe and president of the Spanish Society of the Vertebral Column (GEER) consists of “a kind of GPS that allows us good pre-surgical planning to anatomically locate a structure and reach it safely. With this system, precision is increased and patient exposure to X-rays is drastically reduced.”
“The pre-surgical navigation system is the first time it has been used in Spain”, adds Dr. Bas, and it has been “a success and a clear commitment to innovation, safety and precision”.
The use of this new system is planned for all those patients who are going to undergo surgery for complex spinal pathologies including fractures, tumors, deformities and congenital anomalies.