Scoliosis in children

At Advocate Children’s Hospital, we’ll treat your child as an individual, taking the time to explain everything about their scoliosis treatment to both you and your child. We want to know everything you can tell us about your child and their symptoms in order to individualize their treatment plan.

Overview and symptoms of scoliosis

An abnormal side-to-side or sideways curvature that creates an “S” or “C” shape could be a sign your child has scoliosis. Their spine may also be rotated or twisted which pulls the ribs with it.

• Congenital scoliosis: Occurs at birth but may not be seen until your child reaches adolescence. This sideways curvature of the spine occurs in 1 out of every 10,000 newborns.
• Idiopathic scoliosis: The most common spinal deformity in the world, occurring in adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18. It is more common in girls and can occur in younger children.
• Neuromuscular scoliosis: A sideways curvature of the spine caused by poor muscle control, neurological problems and other issues. It is the second most common form of scoliosis.
• Early onset scoliosis: Occurs in 100,000 children in the United States per year.

Symtoms of scoliosis may include:

• One hip is higher than the other
• A deteriorating ability to sit
• Uneven waistline
• Tilted and uneven shoulders and shoulder blades
• Child favors one side of the body by leaning
• Uneven arm length when standing straight

Some of these symptoms may be caused by other health conditions. A scoliosis treatment plan is more successful if scoliosis is caught early, so it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis from one of our spine experts.

Testing and diagnosis

We develop an accurate and complete diagnosis of your child, starting with questions about their symptoms and observations about their posture, range of movement and possible sideways curvature of the spine. Additional testing may include:

• Bone scan: Involves nuclear imaging that will evaluate arthritic changes in the joints that will detect bone diseases and tumors.
• X-ray: Creates a digital image of the precise location of the abnormal spinal bones and internal tissues.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): Assesses the spinal cord with detail along with producing images of the organs and structures throughout the body.
• EOS imaging: Medical imaging system that provides front and side radiology images using reduced radiation.

Treatments

Treatments for scoliosis can consist of nonsurgical or surgical methods and a roadmap to recovery that your child’s physician can explain to you and your family.

The roadmap to recovery is very important. We’ll teach your child how to manage living with a back brace or other scoliosis treatment plans. We’ll also help plan day-to-day activities your child can do to improve, along with a schedule to follow.

Nonsurgical scoliosis treatments may include:

• Observation and monitoring
• Bracing
• Serial casting performed in a kid-friendly environment in which casts are applied under sedation
• Physical therapy, including the Schroth Method

Surgical scoliosis treatments may include:

• Spinal fusion
• Magnetic expansion control
• Dual posterior growing rods
• Vertebral column resection
• Prosthetic titanium ribs
• Vertical expanding
• Hemi vertebra and wedge resections
• Spinal osteotomy