Scoliosis

In most cases, there is no known cause, although this disease has a strong hereditary component, as this disorder is usually passed from parents to children.

There are other, less common types of scoliosis that may accompany the following problems:

Cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy.
Defects in the formation of vertebral bodies during gestation
Surgical interventions in the thorax in patients under 10 years of age
Disc and/or vertebra infections.
Vertebral tumors.
Spinal cord abnormalities such as spina bifida occulta, myelomeningocele.
Secondary to a genetic syndrome such as neurofibromatosis, mucopolysaccharides, arthrogryposis, VACTER, among others

There are 4 groups of scoliosis:

Idiopathic Scoliosis: the cause is unknown, it is the most common, 8 out of 10 patients with scoliosis have this type and it is more frequent in women.

Congenital scoliosis (present at birth): This is caused by an abnormal formation of the vertebrae, either because they form incompletely or join together improperly.

Neuromuscular Scoliosis: caused by diseases that damage the spinal cord, the nerves that come out of it or the muscles of the spine, for example: cerebral palsy, myelomeningocele, spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophies, polyneuropathies, among others.

Secondary Scoliosis: following spinal fractures, vertebral or medullary tumors, bone infections, among other rare genetic syndromes.

Age: The signs and symptoms mostly begin in adolescence.

Sex: It is more common in women than in men with a 2:1 ratio.

Family history: When you have a family member with scoliosis, such as parents, grandparents, or siblings.

Respiratory problems: This occurs due to the decrease in the size of the rib cage when the curvature is above 70.

Significant aesthetic deformity of the back and rib cage, as scoliosis worsens, causes more noticeable changes, including asymmetrical hips and shoulders, more prominent ribs, and a shift of the waist and trunk to one side.

Untreated scoliosis has a high probability of causing chronic pain in adulthood, especially if the abnormal curves are large.

Changes in mood and self-esteem.

Nutritional alterations, severe deformities decrease the size of the gastric chamber and do not allow for adequate feeding.

Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some curvatures worsen as children and adolescents grow. Severe scoliosis can be disabling because it reduces the size of the rib cage, decreasing the space for the lungs and making it difficult for the respiratory system to function properly.

Minor spinal curves can develop without you or anyone else noticing, as they develop gradually and are usually painless. Sometimes, teachers, friends, or others in your social circle are the first to notice the back deformity.

When attending the consultation, a comprehensive assessment is generally carried out where the following is evaluated:

Sensitivity, strength and reflexes in the hands and legs. The back is observed to identify signs of scoliosis (shoulders, ribs, scapulae and waist).

The Adams maneuver is performed with the aim of measuring the degree of rotation of the vertebrae with the help of the scoliometer and making the deformities more evident.

Depending on the case, we rely on diagnostic aids such as panoramic radiography of the anteroposterior and lateral spine, scoliosis tests, and in some patients, a total spine MRI is performed.