Each month I try to devote the Medical Update column to an awareness campaign or specific health observance for that month. June, is National Scoliosis Awareness Month.
In 2005, my then 13-year-old sister had surgery to have steel rods placed in her spine. She had been diagnosed with Scoliosis 4 years before. She had tried to wear a brace to correct the improper curvature of her spine. The brace did not work, in part because of her failure to wear the brace as indicated by our pediatrician. She saw a specialist, and because our mother worked at the hospital at the time, the doctor knew her and knew that the surgery was such that we couldn’t afford to have it done. This doctor donated his time, waived all his fees, and did my sister’s surgery for free. A major portion of the bill was also picked up by the hospital because of our insurance plan through Mother. I remember right after surgery, my sister spent a couple of days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and was then transferred to the pediatric unit. Her recovery process was long, painful, and involved a lot of physical therapy.
Scoliosis, as defined by the Mayo Clinic, is “a sideways curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty.” For the most part, the cause of this abnormal curvature is unknown, though it can occur in conjunction with other conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. My sister fit into the category of “we don’t know why she has it.” For most children, scoliosis is a benign condition and the degree of curvature is mild. For other children, (like my sister,) the curvature is more sever and needs medical intervention. The condition continues to worsen as they grow and can become very debilitating. It can cause a wide range of complications, including not being able to breathe adequately due to decreased space in the chest.
Signs and Symptoms
In some children with mild curvature, it is difficult to see outward signs. In others, you can readily see the changes. Some that you might see would include the following:
- Uneven shoulders
- One shoulder blade appearing more prominent than the other
- Uneven waist
- One hip higher than the other
Risk Factors
Though both males and females can develop Scoliosis, the condition is much more prominent in females. It occurs most often during the last growth spurt before puberty. Scoliosis may or may not have a genetic component as it seems to run in some families but not all who are diagnosed have a family history of the condition.
Complications
Complications from Scoliosis include the following:
- Lung and heart damage: when severe, the rib cage can press against the lungs and heart, causing damage to these organs as well as others in the chest cavity.
- Back problems: more likely to have chronic back pain as adults if they had Scoliosis as children
- Appearance: as the condition progresses, it can cause a change in appearance and affect body image
