Musculoskeletal

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. While scoliosis can be caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, the cause of most scoliosis is unknown. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some children develop spine deformities that continue to get more severe as they grow.

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Symptoms

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Causes

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Treatments

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Prevention

Condition Overview

Understand key symptoms, causes, diagnosis options, and treatment pathways for Scoliosis. This overview is intended for patient awareness and should be followed by specialist consultation.

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Symptoms

  • Uneven shoulders
  • One shoulder blade appears more prominent than the other
  • Uneven waist
  • One hip higher than the other
  • One side of the rib cage jutting forward
  • Back pain in adults

Causes

  • Idiopathic (unknown) in most cases
  • Congenital (birth defect)
  • Neuromuscular conditions (cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy)
  • Degenerative in adults

Diagnosis

  • Physical examination (Adam's forward bend test)
  • X-rays
  • Cobb angle measurement
  • MRI or CT for complex cases

Treatment

  • Observation (mild curves)
  • Bracing
  • Surgery (spinal fusion for severe curves)

Risk Factors

  • Age (most common in early teens)
  • Sex (girls have higher risk of curve worsening)
  • Family history

Prevention

  • No known prevention for idiopathic scoliosis

Prevalence

Scoliosis affects 2–3% of the population in the United States.

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