What happens if your spine is curved

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Scoliosis in children and teens: In depth. Accessed April 7, Introduction to scoliosis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Kliegman RM, et al. The spine. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Elsevier; Scherl SA. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Clinical features, evaluation and diagnosis.

Ferri FF. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Management and prognosis. Miller MD, et al. The adolescent: Scoliosis. If you're getting a brace, your care team will work with you to choose the right one.

The right brace is the one that works best for the type of curve you have — but it's also the one you're most likely to wear. So make a list of questions and concerns to discuss with your care team, and let them know all the activities you like to do. Some teens with severe scoliosis need a type of surgery called a spinal fusion.

During the operation, an orthopedic surgeon straightens the spine as much as possible and holds it in place with rods and screws. The surgeon then puts in bone graft to join fuse some of the vertebrae together. That way, the curve can't get any worse. After about a year, the bones should be fully fused. The metal rods are no longer needed, but they stay in the back because they aren't doing any harm and taking them out requires another operation.

When treatment is over, people with scoliosis are able to live full and active lives. As long as people get the right treatment as kids or teens, their spine usually won't continue to curve after they're done growing. Reviewed by: Suken A. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Scoliosis? People with scoliosis have a side-to-side curve in the spine that can look like an "S" or a "C.

What Causes Idiopathic Scoliosis? What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Scoliosis? How Is Scoliosis Diagnosed? Health care providers measure scoliosis curves in degrees: A mild curve is less than 20 degrees.

Scoliosis can improve with treatment, but it is not usually a sign of anything serious and treatment is not always needed if it's mild. Some people with scoliosis may also have back pain. This is usually more common in adults with the condition.

See a GP if you think you or your child has scoliosis. It's unlikely that there's anything seriously wrong, but it's best to get it checked out. The GP will examine your back and can refer you to a hospital doctor for help with diagnosis if they suspect scoliosis. The newborn stage isn't easy. Here's one dad's take on what he wish he had known about the fourth trimester. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Common causes, when they can be pinpointed, are: birth defects neurological abnormalities genetic conditions.

What are the common types of scoliosis? Scoliosis symptoms. What causes scoliosis? How is scoliosis diagnosed? What are the treatment options for scoliosis? Pain management for scoliosis. What is the long-term outlook for scoliosis?

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