Pediatric scoliosis

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a relatively rare condition where the spine curves sideways. It typically affects children age 10 and older and is often found during a screening with your child’s pediatrician or at their school.

Scoliosis doesn’t typically cause pain, though it can affect your child’s posture, movement and self-esteem. In rare cases, children develop a severe curve that can affect their breathing.

Fortunately, many children with small curves won’t need treatment for scoliosis. Small curves typically will not get worse once a child is done growing.

What are the different types of scoliosis?

Idiopathic scoliosis

Approximately 80% of scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis. Idiopathic means that doctors don’t know the cause of the condition. It has subtypes based on when the scoliosis begins:

• Infantile scoliosis (also known as early onset scoliosis) develops in children, mostly boys, under age 3.

• Juvenile scoliosis is more common in girls and occurs between the ages of 4 and 10.

• Adolescent scoliosis makes up the majority of idiopathic cases. It is more common in girls than boys and occurs between the ages of 11 and 17.

Congenital scoliosis

Congenital scoliosis is present at birth because the vertebrae (spine bones) didn’t develop properly. This type of scoliosis is rare and is often accompanied by other health issues related to the heart, kidney or bladder.

Neuromuscular scoliosis

In neuromuscular scoliosis, the curve is related to conditions like spina bifida, muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy.

What are the signs and symptoms of scoliosis?

• Pain or discomfort in the lower back

• Shoulders are uneven

• One hip is higher than the other

• Waist looks uneven

• Rib cage is more prominent on one side of the body

• Pelvis is tilted

How is scoliosis diagnosed?

At Children’s Health, our pediatric spine specialists perform a comprehensive evaluation to diagnose your child’s condition. Our expert evaluation may include:

• A medical history

• A physical exam

• An X-ray or CT scan

As a family-focused center, we understand the need to use x-rays cautiously on young, growing bodies. We only use X-rays when necessary and with the lowest dose of radiation possible.

How is scoliosis treated?

Scoliosis affects each child differently. Our spine experts consider your child's age and overall health in developing their treatment plan. We may offer nonsurgical treatments such as:

• Observation and regular appointments with a spine specialist (for children with a slight curve, under 20 degrees)

• Physical therapy to strengthen back and leg muscles and relieve discomfort

• Bracing to prevent scoliosis from getting worse

• Mehta casting for infant scoliosis patients

We are one of the only programs in Texas that use Mehta casting for young scoliosis patients. Research shows this advanced treatment helps straighten the spine in young patients better than bracing.

If your child needs surgery, you can trust our highly trained pediatric orthopedic surgeons to use the most advanced surgical techniques available. We are the only pediatric facility in Texas, and one of the few in the country, to use custom 3-D guides for pediatric scoliosis surgeries. This technology improves outcomes, leading to safer, more effective surgeries.

Some of the advanced surgical options we offer include:

• MAGEC™ Growing Rods that can grow as your child grows

• Spinal fusion to prevent further curving

• Vertebral resection, a rare procedure to remove part of the spine