Scoliotic Curve

Scoliosis Video: What is Scoliosis?

spine-health — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:16:48 -0800

Scoliosis describes an abnormal, side to side curvature of the spine. This video provides an overview of how scoliosis affects the spine and the body.

Scoliosis Surgery

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:54:10 -0800

Surgery for adolescents with scoliosis is only recommended when their curves are greater than 40 to 45 degrees and continuing to progress, and for most patients with curves that are greater than 50 degrees. Scoliosis surgery is designed to reduce the patients curvature and fuse the spine to prevent any further progression of the deformity.

Scoliosis Treatment

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:54:10 -0800

Decision for scoliosis treatment decisions are primarily based on two factors:

The skeletal maturity of the patient (or rather, how much more growth can be expected)
The degree of spinal curvature.

Although the cause of idiopathic scoliosis is unknown, the way scoliosis curves behave is fairly well understood. Basically, the younger the patient and the bigger the curve, the more likely the curve is to progress.

Scoliosis Diagnosis

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:54:10 -0800

Early detection is essential for scoliosis treatment to be most effective. In general, people with a family history of spinal deformity are at greater risk for developing scoliosis.

Scoliosis Symptoms

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:54:10 -0800

In children and teenagers, scoliosis often does not have any noticeable symptoms. The scoliosis is often not noticeable until the curve has progressed significantly.

Scoliosis: What You Need to Know

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:54:10 -0800

See inside scoliosis

The term scoliosis is used to describe an abnormal curvature of the spine, but it is not i

Conclusion to Bracing Treatment for Scoliosis

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:54:09 -0800

Currently, the spine medical community advocates bracing as the only non-surgical treatment for idiopathic scoliosis. The objective of bracing treatment is to prevent the curve from progressing as the child grows, and studies have shown bracing is effective in stopping the progression of the majority of adolescent scoliotic curves.

More Scoliosis Info

Scoliosis Overview

Degenerative Scoliosis

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:54:09 -0800

Degenerative scoliosis comes about as the result of degeneration in the disc space and paired facet joints posteriorly (in the back of the spine). As the joints degenerate they turn and create a bend in the back, resulting in the classic scoliotic curve.

Whereas idiopathic scoliosis is much more common in the thoracic spine (mid back), degenerative scoliosis is much more common in the lumbar spine (lower back). It occurs most frequently in people over 65 years of age.