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Scoliosis. What is Scoliosis?. Scoliosis is defined as a lateral (sideways) curvature of the spine Curve starts at lower back, in the shape of the letter “S” or “C” Curve is either forward (humpback) or backwards (swayback) Ligaments of the spine are brittle and weak
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What is Scoliosis? • Scoliosis is defined as a lateral (sideways) curvature of the spine • Curve starts at lower back, in the shape of the letter “S” or “C” • Curve is either forward (humpback) or backwards (swayback) • Ligaments of the spine are brittle and weak • This causes the spine to curve • Scoliosis affects 2% of the general population • Mainly hereditary www.orthone.com/spine/images/scoliosis3.jpg
What causes scoliosis? • 80% of the time, the cause of scoliosis is unknown • Formation of scoliosis is linked to family; a lot of the time scoliosis is hereditary blogs.tmb.uk.com/.../question-mark-778895.gif
Effects/Symptoms • FIRST SIGNS OF SCOLIOSIS: • “S” shaped curvature of the spine - Pain in the lower back www.espine.com/.../scoliosis-double-major-2.gif www.orthodocs.co.uk/images/rophiad3.jpg
Effects/Symptoms www.uihealthcare.com/.../images/thoracic.jpg • Uneven waist, shoulders, and hips • Enlarged chest cavity at largest part of the curve, compressed chest cavity at smallest part of the curve • Difficulty breathing after minimal exercise • Shallow, rapid breathing
Spinal Curvatures • THORACIC CURVE In a thoracic curve, the spine twists left or right. The curve begins in the chest area, or thoracic region. www.uihealthcare.com/.../images/thoracic.jpg
Spinal Curvatures LUMBAR CURVE The lumbar curve is a c-shaped curve. It is located in the lower back, or the lumbar region. This type of curve causes the hips to twist unevenly. www.spineuniverse.com/displaygraphic.php/1864...
Spinal Curvatures • DOUBLE MAJOR CURVE The double major curve is present in the most severe cases of scoliosis. The spine has two curves, forming the shape of an S. www.espine.com/.../scoliosis-double-major-2.gif
Diagnosis Scoliosis is diagnosed by the severity of the curve - Four types of curves are shown here www.niams.nih.gov/.../images/curvedspine.gif
Diagnosis The Spinal Curvature must be greater than 10 degrees The severity of the curve is determined by the measurement of the Cobb angle Spines that have a curvature of 10-30 degrees are observed for progression Spines with a curvature of 30-50 degrees will receive a brace for correction Spines with a curvature of more than 50 degrees may require surgery for correction
Diagnosis • There is more than one type of scoliosis: • Idiopathic Scoliosis • The most common • The bones are formed normally (not painful) • 7x more likely in girls
Diagnosis • 2. Congenital Scoliosis • This means that the child was born with the disease • The vertebrae form abnormally in the womb
Diagnosis 3. Neuromuscular Scoliosis - A child with a disease of the nervous system (ie. cerebral palsy) may have this form of scoliosis
Diagnosis • 4. Syndromic Scoliosis - This form of scoliosis affects people with different syndromes, such as Marfan syndrome
Diagnosis • 5. Postural Scoliosis • Most painful variation of the disease • Common in children and adolescents • One side of the spine is affected • Also called hysterical scoliosis
Treatment www.internetadsales.com • Mild cases of scoliosis are simply observed for progression • More severe cases are treated with a brace that is worn 20 hours a day • In the most severe cases, surgery such as a spinal fusion may be required www.nlm.nih.gov www.bostonbrace.com adam.about.com
Future Outlook/Research • People who are affected with scoliosis can lead relatively normal lives • The spinal fusion surgery allows the spine to be somewhat corrected • Women who have scoliosis are still able to have children naturally
Works Cited Michael L. Richardson. 24 Jan 2001. Scoliosis. 2000. University of Washington Department of Radiology. www.rad.washington.edu/mskbook/scoliosis.html Posture. (1989). The new good housekeeping family health and medical guide.(pg 269). The Hearst Corporation Scoliosis. (1995). Johns Hopkins Symptoms & Remedies. (pp.634). Medletter Associates. .2006. Scoliosis. 1995-2006. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/brochure/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=14 .12 Sept 2006. Spine: Scoliosis: Signs and Symptoms. 2006. The regents of the University of California. http://www.ucsfhealth.org/childrens/medical_services/ortho/spine/condtions/scoliosis/signs.html Thomas Finely, K. (2002). Scoliosis In Magill’s Medical guide. (Vol. 3 pp 2018-2022). Pasadena, California: Salem Press Inc.