Scoliosis is an orthopedic condition that can significantly impact everyday life. If you are a parent who suspects your child may have scoliosis, you may wonder, how does scoliosis affect the body? Does it cause difficulty breathing? Heart problems?
At Riley Children’s Health, we’re here to answer your questions and provide support for your child’s condition. Read on to learn about scoliosis and its impact on the body, with expertise provided by Riley pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Daniel F. Drake, MD.
Defining scoliosis and its anatomy
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is an orthopedic condition where the spine has an abnormal curve. The curvature will continue to curve in different directions as children grow, but sometimes this is present at birth. This condition can disrupt the body's natural symmetry and alignment, causing postural changes, and sometimes pain and complications if severe.
The three types of scoliosis include idiopathic scoliosis (adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form), congenital scoliosis (present at birth) and neuromuscular scoliosis (caused by preexisting conditions like spina bifida, muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy).
What is the anatomy of the spine?
Scoliosis affects the spine, or backbone, which is a structure that supports your body from your neck to your lower back. A healthy spine has natural curves that make an “S” shape from front-to-back and is divided into three parts–cervical, thoracic, and lumbar.
There are 33 vertebrae (or small bones) that stack to form the spine. When a spine has scoliosis, the bones in the spine begin to form in different directions, potentially leading to a range of physical, as well as emotional, complications.
Understanding the physical implications
What skeletal deformities can occur?
Scoliosis causes visible, skeletal deformities such as:
- Head not centered over rest of body
- Uneven slanting of the shoulders
- Single shoulder blade sticking out more prominently than the other
- Rib cage distortion
- Torso leaning to one direction
- Unbalanced hip alignment
- Leg length discrepancy
Can scoliosis cause muscular imbalance?
When diagnosed with scoliosis, it can cause the muscles surrounding the spine to become weaker than others. Specifically, your child may experience:
- Compensation patterns: This forms when muscles are unable to properly move a joint, limiting range of motion. Compensation patterns lead to muscle pain and discomfort, making daily activities challenging.
- Muscle strain and fatigue: Muscles on one side of the spine may become strained or fatigued because they must work harder to compensate for the curvature.
Can scoliosis cause difficulty breathing?
Severe scoliosis can largely impact the lungs by reducing the space available to expand. When there is no room to expand the lungs, this can lead to shortness of breath, especially during physical activity.
Can scoliosis cause heart problems?
Scoliosis can cause heart problems if severe. Because scoliosis restricts the rib cage, this can leave pressure on the heart, resulting in reduced blood flow to the heart and irregular heartbeat. In more severe cases, the disruption of the rib cage may cause heart failure or pulmonary hypertension.
Can scoliosis cause hip pain?
Scoliosis can cause hip pain due to the uneven distribution of weight in the hips. When the spine curves abnormally, the pelvis is tilted, leading to discomfort and pain in the hips.
How does scoliosis affect the digestive systems?
Similar to heart and lung complications, severe scoliosis can disrupt feeding intolerance and digestion. It can be beneficial for some patients with scoliosis to have a feeding tube to help with nutrition.
Seeking proper treatment and support
What are the available treatment options?
Treatment depends on the severity of the curvature. For mild scoliosis cases (10-25 degrees), frequent observation and monitoring may be the only treatment needed.
For moderate cases (25-45 degrees), physical therapy, bracing or casting are other treatment options to keep the spine aligned and prevent progression. In more severe instances, surgical treatment may be required. The three common surgeries performed are spinal fusion surgery (spine is fused together), growing rod surgery (rods are placed in the spine with the ability to lengthen as the spine grows) and non-fusion surgery (places screws in the spine).
How can you help your child with scoliosis?
Helping your child cope with scoliosis is important to navigating the care journey, and there are numerous resources to support you, such as:
- Join support groups, which provide a safe space for families to seek advice and connect with others facing similar challenges.
- Encourage family involvement, as having that support will help your child feel confident and safe.
- Your child with scoliosis will likely face body image concerns and emotional distress, in addition to the physical challenges. Consider mental health support to raise your child’s morale and behavioral wellbeing.
To find additional resources, visit SRS.org or curvygirlsscoliosis.com.
While scoliosis impacts everyday life and can affect many parts of the body, our team of orthopedic specialists are here to support in every way. Remember, seeking early intervention can make a big difference, and taking appropriate action now can help your child live a normal, happy life.
If you suspect your child has scoliosis, call 317.948.2550 to schedule an appointment with Riley Children's Orthopedics. A physician referral is not required. To learn more about our pediatric spine care, read this Q&A
with one of our pediatric spine surgeons.