DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCOLIOSIS ?
The Main Types of Scoliosis are Idiopathic Scoliosis, Adolescent Scoliosis and Adult Degenerative Scoliosis. Each type of scoliosis has different scoliosis treatment.
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What is Idiopathic Scoliosis
Idiopathic scoliosis develops in childhood. Early-onset idiopathic scoliosis and late-onset idiopathic scoliosis are two types of idiopathic scoliosis.Early-onset scoliosis affects children between the ages of one and nine. In general, the earlier scoliosis develops, the more severe and disabling it can be. Early-onset scoliosis can cause serious lung problems caused by a lack of normal lung growth, and it can progress quickly in some cases.
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What is Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis ?
Also known as Late-onset scoliosis typically presents between 10 to 17 years of age. Adolescent Scoliosis is more common in females community, and mostly affect the thoracic (upper) spine and rib cage
The lungs are usually developed by this stage and so lung problems are typically not as severe unless the scoliosis is quite major (over 80 degrees curve).
For children under 14 years who have a large amount of growth left are recommended with immediate treatment will in most cases.
The bracing procedure is recommended by Scoliosis Surgeon for a patient with 25 – 40-degree curves and surgical procedure is often advised if the curve increases to 50 degrees in a growing spine. Whilst this is classified as major surgery, 90%of patients are able to return back to routine activities by around 12 months post the operation.
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What is Adult Scoliosis ?
Adult Scoliosis is defined as a spinal deformity in a skeletally mature patient with a Cobb angle of more than 10 degrees in the coronal plain.
Adult Scoliosis can be categorised into two major groups:
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Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis : Those adult patients who have had scoliosis since childhood or adolescence come under this category. These people ‘bring the curve with them’ from childhood.
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Degenerative Scoliosis ( Adult “De Novo” ) : This develops in adulthood i.e from age 18. Degenerative scoliosis develops as an outcome of disc and facet joint degeneration. Due to the degeneration of the intervertebral discs, the patient loses height. If anyone side of the disc degenerates faster than the other side, the disc can tilt and this causes the spine to bend and curve.
What are the Causes of Scoliosis ?
In approximately 80% of cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown due to its Idiopathic nature ( i.e Roughly 8 out of 10 cases are Idiopathic Scoliosis ) . As mentioned above it usually develops when the patient’s age is between 10 and 17 years old, roughly coinciding with the onset of puberty. It is said to be the due diligence of genetic factors, however, research into the exact cause of idiopathic scoliosis is still ongoing.
Scoliosis can also be triggered by underlying medical conditions such as
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Muscular Dystrophy
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Cerebral Palsy
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Marfan Syndrome
Scoliosis can be inborn due to the way a baby's spine formed in the womb; however, certain types of scoliosis do not manifest until later in life.p>
What are the Symptoms of Scoliosis?
Symptoms of Scoliosis can be jotted down in accordance to its type:
Treatment For Scoliosis
Scoliosis surgeon recommends the treatment for scoliosis depending upon a number of factors which including:
- The patient's age
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The severity of their spinal curve
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The location of the curve
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How quickly the curve is progressing (getting worse)
- Whether or not the patient is still growing or has the growth stopedli>
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Observation
This is a first type of scoliosis treatment. In children and adolescents patients showing signs of scoliosis, we traditionally recommend many patients to have a “wait and decide” observation period. This is often done during the early period of diagnosis where the curve is not large enough to recommend any non-surgical or surgical treatments such as bracing or surgery. Regular monitoring of the progression of the curve is done by regular examination and radiological studies.
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Bracing
This is a second type of scoliosis treatment. Non-surgical treatment to treat Scoliosis comprises of bracing - In this procedure the individual wears an external brace for a recommended period of time (typically ranging from 2-3 years) to try and stop the curve from getting worse. This is most effective in the growing spine i.e but does not play a pint of role in adult scoliosis. Adjustable braces can be employed to accommodate the increasing spine. Wearing a brace doesn’t cure or reverse the scoliosis curve, however, it usually prevents further curve progression of the curve.
Most braces are made of plastic fibre and are customised to fit the body of the patient. They are difficult to notice and observe underclothes, as they fit very well. Patients are asked to wear Braces day and night, as their effectiveness increases with the number of hours a day they are worn. Children wearing braces usually can participate in most activities with minimal restrictions and limitations. They can take off the brace for short periods of time if they wish to to participate in any sports event. The patients are asked to wear the Braces until the bones stop growing. This is usually recommended when :
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Around two years after the onset of menstruation
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When adolescent boys need to shave every day,
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When their height plateaus and they are no longer getting taller
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Injection and Radiofrequency Non-Surgical Treatment For Reducing Pain
This is a third type of scoliosis treatment.
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Patients with back and leg pain may get some benefit from injection treatment to help relieve from the suffering from pain. Radiofrequency treatment may also be of some assistance.
- These treatments are aimed to reduce pain and are not used to t change the shape of the spine or treat the curve of the spine
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Physiotheraphy
This is a forth type of scoliosis treatment. Physiotherapy is recommended to the patients sometimes, however, there is very little evidence that physiotherapy can make a long term difference to curve progression or helps in avoiding the need for the surgery. Physiotherapy are found to be helpful in pain management of spinal disorders.
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Spinal Surgery
This is a fifth type of scoliosis treatment.Scoliosis surgeon recommends surgery only in individuals with a severe curve which may affect other vital functions of the body or those with a high rate of growth, and surgery cannot be postponed until skeletal maturity is achieved. Scoliosis surgery seeks to correct the curve using metal rods, screws, and hooks to balance the spine. An open or minimally invasive approach can be used by Scoliosis Surgeon for surgery.
It involves correcting the spine shape and fusing it for stabilisation of it’s corrected position. It involves the use of a variety of elements which includes screws, hooks, rods, and sometimes wires. Surgery may be done commonly from the back or the front of the spine, and sometimes a combination of both. In the childer, there are multiple surgical techniques for holding the spine straight, allowing control and maintaining spine growth as much as possible.
Adults Spinal Surgery
In Adults, spine is combined with the stabilizers to treat the wear and tear which has been accumulated over the years which makes the spine joints stiffer. The patients usually complain of back pain due to the compression on the spinal cord or nerves.
