Scoliosis

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. This over-curvature can cause the spinal canal to tighten. The spinal canal is a protective layer that covers the nerves of the spine. These nerves run from the arms and legs to the brain and serve as the body's message center

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Scoliosis most often attacks adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18 and is more commonly seen in females than males. While the exact cause of scoliosis is not understood, it is known that it is more prominent in women, it can be inherited genetically and it potentially stems from problems related to growth or the central nervous system.

Adult Scoliosis
In adults, scoliosis is often a byproduct of a pre-existing chronic disease such as osteoporosis, osteomalacia or disc degeneration. Also, previously untreated idiopathic curves from an untreated childhood or adolescent scoliosis can begin to degenerate because of the abnormal forces the discs have to handle from a lifetime of curvature. Either of these degenerative processes can cause a weakening in the spine, in which the spine can no longer properly support itself.

Because of issues with spinal curve and abnormal load bearing, often untreated or progressive adolescent scoliosis can cause a problem in the adult as the curve degenerates. This can cause mechanical back pain and, if nerves get pinched, buttock and leg pains.

Treatment for Adults
Surgery options for scoliosis are very complex and must include considerations of spinal balance, spinal stenosis (nerve root pinching), and curve correction. The good news is that if non-operative treatment fails, surgery can often provide good results in terms of pain relief and function improvement. Your surgeon can educate you on benefits, risks, and alternatives For osteoporosis, less invasive and more common treatment alternatives include augmenting the diet with vitamin D and calcium supplements and strength training through weight-bearing activities.