Congenital Spinal Deformities
There are many different causes of spinal deformities or abnormal spinal curves. Some children are born with improperly formed or incompletely developed vertebrae which can produce a curvature by causing the spine to grow unevenly. This type of curvature is known as congenital scoliosis or kyphosis. Other children may have nerve or muscle diseases, such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida, injuries, or other illnesses that cause spinal deformities.
Many of these spinal deformities and conditions can be conservatively treated with exercises or braces. If a congenital curvature is progressive, it may require surgery. Our pediatric orthopaedic specialists have expertise in diagnosing and providing surgical and non-surgical treatment for all spinal disorders.
Scoliosis
The normal spine can vary in size and shape, but it is straight. Scoliosis is a condition that causes the progressive curvature of the spine. It can also cause the bones of the spine to rotate so that one shoulder or hip appears higher than the other.
Scoliosis can occur at any age.
Infantile scoliosis occurs in children less than 3 years old, and may result from a birth defect, disease of the nerves and muscles (such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy), infection or tumors.
Juvenile scoliosis occurs in children between the ages of 3 and 10 years.
Adolescent scoliosis occurs after the age of 10 years and is the most common type. Most adolescent scoliosis is "idiopathic," which means the causes are unknown.
A tendency toward scoliosis can be inherited. The disorder frequently runs in families. If someone in a family has scoliosis, the likelihood of another incidence is much higher - approximately 20%. If one child is diagnosed, all other growing children in the family should be examined.
It is important that scoliosis be identified as early as possible, since prompt brace treatment of progressing curves provides the best chance of slowing or halting the disorder.
In planning the treatment for each child, a Henry Ford pediatric orthopaedist will carefully consider a variety of factors, including the history of scoliosis in the family, the age at which the curve began, the curve's location and its severity. Most spinal curves in children will remain small and will only need to be watched by an orthopaedist for sign of progression.
If the curvature worsens, the traditional mode of therapy is a spinal brace. Bracing can be effective if the child is still growing and has a curve of less than 40 degrees. A Henry Ford orthotist can fit a scoliosis patient with a brace and provide the proper wearing instructions.
Of all the spinal surgeries performed each year, about one-third are for severe scoliosis. Depending on the patient's age, orthopaedic surgeons usually consider surgery when a curve exceeds 50 degrees and the child is still growing. The surgery requires a bone graft from the hip, ribs or a bone bank and a series of rods, hooks, screws or wires to straighten the spine.
