Medical Background
Scoliosis
I- Other names
Skolios - bent
Spine Deformity
II- Definition
Scoliosis is a 10° lateral curvature measured radiographically with the vertebral rotation of the spine taken with
the patient standing upright. (Dutton’s)
Scoliosis is the most common back deformity.
III- Grading/Types/Classification
Classification Definition Cause
Congenital scoliosis Congenital scoliosis is a type of This type of scoliosis happens because the
scoliosis that you are born with. spine does not develop fully in the womb.
Early onset scoliosis Early onset scoliosis is when a The cause for early onset scoliosis can be
curve appears between birth and unknown (idiopathic) or due to a number of
age 10, or before puberty. other causes that result in a scoliosis under the
age of 10 year
Adolescent idiopathic Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is a There are many theories about the cause of AIS
scoliosis change in the shape of the spine including:
when a child is growing. It results hormonal imbalance
in the spine curving sideways and asymmetric growth and
twisting at the same time. muscle imbalance
Degenerative scoliosis Degenerative scoliosis occurs in Degenerative scoliosis of both kinds can
adults. happen because the bones get weaker as we
age.
Neuromuscular scoliosis Neuromuscular scoliosis is a Upper neuron lesions-cerebral palsy
curvature of the spine caused by a Lower neuron lesions-poliomyelitis
neurological or muscular condition Myopathies- muscular dystrophy
Syndromic scoliosis/ Syndromic scoliosis means that a
Secondary sideways curve of the spine
develops as part of a syndrome. A
syndrome is a condition that is
made up of lots of symptoms
(signs) that appear together.
IV- Epidemiology
o F>M
o Theprevalence of idiopathic scoliosis is reported to be between0.3% and 2% of the population.
o The incidence ofdegenerative scoliosis is reported as 6% in people over 50years of age and 36% in persons over
50 with osteoporosis.
o Common among models
o Common in adolescents (growing years)
, V- Risk factors
General Risk Factors of Idiopathic Scoliosis
It nearly always occurs during the growth spurt right before and during adolescence. It can also occur, however, in young
children and even in infants. About 2% to 3% of adolescents develop curvature of 10 degrees or more, but only about
0.3% to 0.5% have curves greater than 20 degrees. Mild curvature occurs about equally in girls and boys, but curve
progression is 10 times more likely to occur in girls.
Medical Risk Factors
- Turner’s Syndrome
- Muscular Dystrophy
Persons at risk:
- Dancers
- Models
- Swimmers
- Gymnast
• Being female or at a younger age at the onset of scoliosis increases the risk.
• The greater the angle of the curvature, the greater the risk. At 20 degrees, only about 20% of curves progress. Young
people diagnosed with a 30-degree curve, however, have a risk for progression of 60%; with a curve of 50 degrees, the
risk is 90%.
• Curvatures may be less likely to progress in girls whose scoliosis was low in the back and whose spine was out of
balance by more than an inch.
• Taller girls appear to be at higher risk.
• Curvatures from congenital scoliosis (spinal problems present at birth) may progress rapidly.
Children with scoliosis who are treated with growth hormone appear to be at high risk for progression, which is frequently
rapid.
Risk Factors for Progression in Adult-Onset Scoliosis
In rare cases, scoliosis may develop in adults who may have had unrecognized or untreated scoliosis in their youth.
Osteoporosis, which is a serious problem in many older adults, can cause even mild curvatures to progress.
(Osteoporosis itself is not a risk factor for new-onset scoliosis.) In most cases, however, it is not known why adult’s curves
progress.
VI- Etiology
Types Causes
Structural Scoliosis o Neuromuscular diseases or disorders (e.g., cerebral palsy spinal cord injury,
progressive neurological or muscular diseases)
o Osteopathic disorders (e.g., hemivertebra, osteomalacia, rickets, fracture), and
o idiopathic disorders in which the cause is known are common causes of structural
scoliosis.
Non-structural Scoliosis o Leg-length discrepancy (structural or functional)
o Muscle guarding or spasm from a painful stimuli in the back or neck
o Habitual or assymetrical postures are common causes of non structural scoliosis.
o Poor posture
o Hysteria
o Nerve root irritation
o Inflammation in the spine
o Hip contracture
Scoliosis
I- Other names
Skolios - bent
Spine Deformity
II- Definition
Scoliosis is a 10° lateral curvature measured radiographically with the vertebral rotation of the spine taken with
the patient standing upright. (Dutton’s)
Scoliosis is the most common back deformity.
III- Grading/Types/Classification
Classification Definition Cause
Congenital scoliosis Congenital scoliosis is a type of This type of scoliosis happens because the
scoliosis that you are born with. spine does not develop fully in the womb.
Early onset scoliosis Early onset scoliosis is when a The cause for early onset scoliosis can be
curve appears between birth and unknown (idiopathic) or due to a number of
age 10, or before puberty. other causes that result in a scoliosis under the
age of 10 year
Adolescent idiopathic Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is a There are many theories about the cause of AIS
scoliosis change in the shape of the spine including:
when a child is growing. It results hormonal imbalance
in the spine curving sideways and asymmetric growth and
twisting at the same time. muscle imbalance
Degenerative scoliosis Degenerative scoliosis occurs in Degenerative scoliosis of both kinds can
adults. happen because the bones get weaker as we
age.
Neuromuscular scoliosis Neuromuscular scoliosis is a Upper neuron lesions-cerebral palsy
curvature of the spine caused by a Lower neuron lesions-poliomyelitis
neurological or muscular condition Myopathies- muscular dystrophy
Syndromic scoliosis/ Syndromic scoliosis means that a
Secondary sideways curve of the spine
develops as part of a syndrome. A
syndrome is a condition that is
made up of lots of symptoms
(signs) that appear together.
IV- Epidemiology
o F>M
o Theprevalence of idiopathic scoliosis is reported to be between0.3% and 2% of the population.
o The incidence ofdegenerative scoliosis is reported as 6% in people over 50years of age and 36% in persons over
50 with osteoporosis.
o Common among models
o Common in adolescents (growing years)
, V- Risk factors
General Risk Factors of Idiopathic Scoliosis
It nearly always occurs during the growth spurt right before and during adolescence. It can also occur, however, in young
children and even in infants. About 2% to 3% of adolescents develop curvature of 10 degrees or more, but only about
0.3% to 0.5% have curves greater than 20 degrees. Mild curvature occurs about equally in girls and boys, but curve
progression is 10 times more likely to occur in girls.
Medical Risk Factors
- Turner’s Syndrome
- Muscular Dystrophy
Persons at risk:
- Dancers
- Models
- Swimmers
- Gymnast
• Being female or at a younger age at the onset of scoliosis increases the risk.
• The greater the angle of the curvature, the greater the risk. At 20 degrees, only about 20% of curves progress. Young
people diagnosed with a 30-degree curve, however, have a risk for progression of 60%; with a curve of 50 degrees, the
risk is 90%.
• Curvatures may be less likely to progress in girls whose scoliosis was low in the back and whose spine was out of
balance by more than an inch.
• Taller girls appear to be at higher risk.
• Curvatures from congenital scoliosis (spinal problems present at birth) may progress rapidly.
Children with scoliosis who are treated with growth hormone appear to be at high risk for progression, which is frequently
rapid.
Risk Factors for Progression in Adult-Onset Scoliosis
In rare cases, scoliosis may develop in adults who may have had unrecognized or untreated scoliosis in their youth.
Osteoporosis, which is a serious problem in many older adults, can cause even mild curvatures to progress.
(Osteoporosis itself is not a risk factor for new-onset scoliosis.) In most cases, however, it is not known why adult’s curves
progress.
VI- Etiology
Types Causes
Structural Scoliosis o Neuromuscular diseases or disorders (e.g., cerebral palsy spinal cord injury,
progressive neurological or muscular diseases)
o Osteopathic disorders (e.g., hemivertebra, osteomalacia, rickets, fracture), and
o idiopathic disorders in which the cause is known are common causes of structural
scoliosis.
Non-structural Scoliosis o Leg-length discrepancy (structural or functional)
o Muscle guarding or spasm from a painful stimuli in the back or neck
o Habitual or assymetrical postures are common causes of non structural scoliosis.
o Poor posture
o Hysteria
o Nerve root irritation
o Inflammation in the spine
o Hip contracture
