What is scoliosis? | Riley Children's Health

What Causes Scoliosis

Scientists don’t know what causes scoliosis yet, but they know it’s not inherited from parents and it’s more common among girls. While usually painless, many people live their whole lives with mild forms of scoliosis. But much like a young tree that begins to bend sideways, scoliosis that goes untreated can cause problems later.

What are the Symptoms of Scoliosis

The symptoms of scoliosis aren’t always obvious. It’s often diagnosed during a regular checkup, or sometimes parents notice a slight hump in their child’s back when they bend over. Some children are diagnosed with infantile scoliosis during their toddler years. Once scoliosis is identified, it is important to begin monitoring the curvature to ensure it doesn’t worsen.

How is Scoliosis Diagnosed

Doctors at Riley at IU first test for adolescent scoliosis by watching your child’s back as he or she bends over. Doctors look for a rotation of the spine near the rib cage. If they detect an abnormal rotation, physicians take standing X-ray images of your child using EOS imaging, a special 3-D, low-dose radiation system designed for repeated scoliosis monitoring.

Scoliosis Severity

Scoliosis severity is measured by the degrees of the spinal curvature:

Mild but young. Younger patients with mild curves are monitored to see if the degree of curvature worsens during their remaining growing years.
Moderate curve of 20-40 degrees. These patients still have growth remaining and may benefit from scoliosis bracing to avoid additional curvature or surgery.
Severe curve greater than 45-50 degrees. These curvatures are less common but require surgery to correct the abnormality. Scoliosis this severe can progress more rapidly, and if left untreated into adulthood, could limit lung function permanently.

How is Scoliosis Treated

There are several treatments for scoliosis, depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the spinal curve:

Bracing. The most common treatment for the majority of scoliosis patients, bracing prevents the spinal curvature from worsening.
Casting. Infants with scoliosis who have a high risk of the curve worsening over time may wear a molded cast to help halt or prevent the curve’s progression until the child is old enough to be fitted for a brace or is ready for surgery.
Surgery. For the most severe spine curvatures, surgery is the only option to limit or correct the abnormality.

Key Points to Remember

Scoliosis is not a disease. It’s a curvature of the spine common among adolescent children but can worsen if left untreated.
Surgery is a treatment option only for patients with severe scoliosis who need medical intervention to preserve their lung function.
Monitoring scoliosis throughout childhood is important to ensure a treatment opportunity isn’t missed.
Physicians can connect your child with another patient who has been through scoliosis treatment to discuss questions and offer support about what to expect.

Support Services & Resources

Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.

Learn More About Riley Support Services

Locations

In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.