Our spine care team has years of experience treating early onset scoliosis. We are one of the only hospitals in North Texas to provide Mehta casting and vertebral band tethering, two of the most advanced treatments available to correct scoliosis.
Overview
What is early onset scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves to the left or right, and when that curvature appears before age 10, it’s called early onset scoliosis. Children's Health℠ specializes in multiple treatments for early onset scoliosis, including special casts that guide a child’s spine into proper alignment.
Types
What are the different types of early onset scoliosis?
The four main types of early onset scoliosis are:
Congenital early onset scoliosis
This is a rare type of scoliosis that happens when your child’s spine doesn’t form properly in the womb.
Neuromuscular early onset scoliosis
Some children develop scoliosis because they have a disease that affects their nerves and muscles, such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida.
Syndromic early onset scoliosis
Some children develop scoliosis because they have a disorder that affects their bones or development, such as bone dysplasia or Prader-Willi syndrome.
Idiopathic early onset scoliosis
Idiopathic is the medical term for conditions that have no known causes. In some children, we don’t know why they have developed early onset scoliosis.
Signs and Symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of early onset scoliosis?
A child with early onset scoliosis may have symptoms that include:
Appearance of leaning to one side
One hip that sits higher than the other
Shoulder blade that sticks out on one side
Ribs that stick out on one side
Rarely, weakness or numbness in their legs or arms
Diagnosis
How is early onset scoliosis diagnosed?
Your child’s pediatrician may suspect scoliosis after examining their back. They’ll need X-rays to diagnose the condition. Your child may also need imaging tests to look for spine abnormalities and to measure the exact curve of their spine. These tests may include:
MRI to make sure there are no problems with the nerves inside the bones
CT scans to create 3D images of the spine
Bone scan to check your child’s bone density
At Children’s Health, we use an EOS low-dose X-ray machine. This machine makes your child’s treatment safer by reducing their exposure to radiation.
Causes
What causes early onset scoliosis?
There are many causes of early onset scoliosis, including conditions that affect the nerves and conditions that affect bone development. However, in many cases, scoliosis is "idiopathic," which means it happens for no known reason.
Treatment
How is early onset scoliosis treated?
Some children will not need any treatment for early onset scoliosis. We will see your child every 6 months to a year for X-rays and monitoring. If their spine curve remains under 20-25 degrees, they usually do not require any treatment.
However, if your child’s spine becomes more curved as they grow, they may need treatment such as:
Physical therapy: Physical therapy can help your child improve muscle strength in their spine.
Bracing: We work with a prosthetics company to create a custom brace for your child. This brace attempts to keep your child’s spinal curve from getting worse as they grow. Depending on the type of brace prescribed, your child will wear the brace for 16 to 20 hours per day, but can participate in activities like sports.
Mehta casting: We are one of the only hospitals in Texas to provide Mehta casting. For this treatment, we will put a tight cast on your child that pushes their spine straighter. Your child will get a new cast every two to three months, typically over a span of six to 18 months. Although the cast shouldn’t get wet, children with Mehta casts can run and do most activities without any trouble.
Surgery: To treat severe cases, we may do an operation to help straighten your child’s spine.
What are the surgical treatments for early onset scoliosis?
Most children with early onset scoliosis will not need surgery. For those who do, we offer the most advanced surgical treatment options for early onset scoliosis, including:
Spinal fusion to connect vertebrae together
Removal of one or more vertebrae or pieces of vertebrae that are causing the curve
MAGEC growing rods that hold your child’s spine straight and can be lengthened with magnets as your child grows
Traditional growing rods that hold your child’s spine straighter and can be manually lengthened as your child grows
Vertebral expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) that straightens your child’s spine and can be lengthened with surgery as your child grows
Vertebral band tethering that changes the growth pattern of the spine, helping pull the curve straight as your child grows
At this time, only select surgeons in the country can perform vertebral band tethering, the newest surgical treatment for scoliosis. We are one of the few hospitals in Texas to offer this procedure.
What is the expected recovery after scoliosis surgery?
It may take 6 months or longer for your child to recover from scoliosis surgery. During this time, they may not be able to participate in certain activities like sports. Your child’s spine surgeon will help you understand what is safe for your child as they recover.
Doctors and Providers
Our team specializes in children’s spinal issues and treatments.
