Medical screening can detect scoliosis in kids

The pillar of our bodies, the spine forms a line from neck to pelvis and plays a pivotal role in nearly every movement we make. For people with scoliosis, however, the spine is not a straight line. Instead, it resembles the letter C or S with a curvature of 10 degrees or greater. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, an estimated 6 to 9 million people in the United States, or 2 percent to 3 percent of the population, have scoliosis.

“The single biggest risk factor for scoliosis is having a parent or relative with scoliosis, although some people will develop scoliosis without having it in their families,” said Benjamin Bjerke, MD, a fellowship-trained spine surgeon who practices at Reno Orthopaedic Clinic. “Many children discover they have scoliosis from an asymmetry in the spine, seen with one shoulder being higher or a hump on the back. Some school screening programs will discover this; however, most severe scoliosis is noticed by children or their parents without screening.”

Medical providers such as primary care physicians, pediatricians and orthopedic specialists can officially diagnose scoliosis with a physical exam. X-rays may be ordered to assess severity, Bjerke said, and an MRI or other studies are not typically necessary.

Whether it’s detected during a medical exam, a school screening or through parental observation, it’s the severity of scoliosis that determines if treatment may be necessary.

“The large majority of people with scoliosis have mild curvatures of the spine and live completely normal lives,” said Meg Ward, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician in practice at Renown Medical Group’s Robb Drive location. “For most, scoliosis does not require any treatment. Your primary care provider will monitor the spine with physical exams and X-rays to make sure the curve does not get larger.

“For a very small percentage of people with scoliosis, the curvature of the spine is more severe and can cause pain and emotional distress during adulthood, affecting how they walk and even how they breathe,” Ward added. “Those with severe scoliosis can be treated with back braces or spinal fusion surgery.”

Bjerke said nonsurgical treatment methods tend to be the best bet for the large majority of people with scoliosis. Such methods include maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, keeping excess weight in check, and seeking physical therapy and chiropractic care.

“The majority of people with scoliosis will be completely unaffected by it,” Bjerke said. “Some may have back pain, others may have a noticeable curve in the spine, and in severe cases, a patient’s balance may be affected.

“If the curve is severe enough to require treatment, a spinal fusion to straighten the spine with metal rods may be recommended,” he added. “When surgical treatment is recommended, an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon who specializes in spine surgery is able to treat scoliosis. Surgery for scoliosis is a major undertaking, and a second opinion on the surgery to be performed is always a good idea.”