Scoliosis
Scoliosis is referred to as a permanent deformation of the spine in three dimensions. This deviation due to a twist of the vertebrae generally occurs during childhood. This can be the result of a malformation, a disease, or idiopathy when the cause remains unknown. Scoliosis causes deformation of the thorax and areas near to the spine. The ease of treatment depends on the seriousness of the deflection, which is why it is essential to treat Scoliosis at an early stage.
Causes of Scoliosis
The cause of The idiopathic Scoliosis is unknown; it appears mostly during childhood or at teenage. It is not very uncommon to see several family members affected as sometimes it is attributed to being heredity. These scolioses are the most frequent, representing 70 to 80% of Scoliosis.
Scoliosis can also be the result of congenital malformation (which occurs from birth), or by a neuromuscular or bone disease (myopathy, polio), Marfan disease, etc. This is called secondary Scoliosis.
Bad postures, playing sports, wearing a heavy bag, or an unbalanced diet are not responsible for Scoliosis.
Symptoms of Scoliosis
It is hard to diagnose Scoliosis at an early stage, as it usually does not cause any particular pain.
The visible signs of Scoliosis are
- malformation of the spine
- The appearance of poor posture
- Bump on one side of the back when the child leans forward.
Scoliosis diagnosis
One-shoulder slightly higher than the other may be enough to get the doctor's attention. To fully know the deviation of the spine, the doctor asks the patient to stand upright, shirtless, feet together, to observe an asymmetry. Then he makes him lean forward, legs outstretched, to highlight the gibbosity, visible bump on one side of the column.
With x-rays, we explore Scoliosis to know the exact place where it is located and especially its angle, because this angle will decide the course of the treatment.