Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine curves, like the letter C or S. Scoliosismore often found in children before puberty, which is around the age of 10-15 years.
Scoliosis is usually mild, but can become more severe with age, especially in women. When scoliosis becomes severe, it can cause sufferers to experience heart, lung, or leg weakness.
Scoliosis Symptoms
Symptoms of scoliosis can vary, depending on the severity of the condition. Common symptoms include:
- The body of a person with scoliosis leans to one side
- One shoulder is higher
- One of the shoulder blades looks more prominent
- Uneven waist height
Severe curvature can cause back discomfort. The spine can also rotate, causing the curve to get worse and one rib to stand out from the other. When the condition gets worse, scoliosis can cause breathing problems.
When to go to the doctor
When you see a curved spine, even if only slightly, immediately consult a doctor, or more specifically a spine specialist orthopedist. The goal is that scoliosis can be detected early and treated. Because if not, scoliosis can get worse slowly and painlessly, eventually causing complications that can be permanent.
Causes of Scoliosis
Most cases of scoliosis have no known cause (idiopathic). However, there are several conditions that can trigger scoliosis, namely:
- Spinal injury.
- spinal infection.
- Spinal bearings and joints that wear out with age (degenerative scoliosis).
- Congenital (congenital scoliosis).
- Nerve and muscle disorders (neuromuscular scoliosis), eg muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy.
Scoliosis Diagnosis
The diagnosis of scoliosis is carried out by a doctor starting by asking the patient's symptoms and diseases that have been experienced. Next, the doctor will perform a physical examination.
During a physical examination, the doctor will ask the patient to stand or bend over. The doctor will also check the condition of the nerves to see if any muscles are weak, stiff, or show abnormal reflexes.
In addition to a physical examination, the doctor can also perform X-rays and CT scans to confirm the presence of scoliosis and determine the severity of the spinal curvature. If the doctor suspects an abnormality in the spine is caused by something else, the doctor may order an MRI scan.
Scoliosis Therapy
Scoliosis treatment is carried out based on the severity, age, and condition of the spinal curvature.
Scoliosis therapy in children
Treatment is not yet necessary for mild scoliosis, as the spine can still straighten as children get older. However, the progress of the disease needs to be monitored by a doctor.
With regular checkups to the doctor, it can be seen the development of the condition of the curved bone. Doctors can also do X-rays to monitor it.
In more severe scoliosis, the child will be asked to wear a spinal brace. These braces can't realign the bones, but they can prevent the curvature of the spine from getting worse.
Supports are usually made of plastic that are worn under the arms, around the ribs, and down the back and hips. The shape is adjusted to the shape of the body so that it is almost invisible when wearing clothes.
To be more effective, these braces need to be worn throughout the day, except when the child is exercising. The use of supports can be stopped when spinal growth stops, namely:
- Two years after girls start menstruating.
- When the mustache or beard on a boy's face begins to grow.
- When there is no more height gain.
Scoliosis therapy in adults
For adult patients, where scoliosis often causes back pain complaints, the doctor's therapy may include:
- Administration of pain medicationTo relieve inflammation and pain, your doctor will give you non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen.
- Corticosteroid injections in the spinal cavityCorticosteroid injections are given if the patient experiences pressure on the spinal cord, causing pain, stiffness, or tingling. These injections only work for a short period of time, which is about a few weeks or a few months.
Scoliosis surgery
For severe cases of scoliosis, an orthopedic doctor may perform surgery. Operations that can be performed are:
- Bone joining surgery
In this operation, two or more vertebrae are joined together to form one bone.
- Laminectomy surgeryIn a laminectomy, a portion of the curved spine is removed to relieve pressure on the nerves.
- Discectomy surgery
This surgery removes one of the pads or discs in the spine to relieve pressure on the nerves.
The operation that is often performed in many cases of scoliosis is a combination of the above surgical techniques. Spinal surgery itself is also at risk of causing complications, such as infection or the formation of blood clots.
Scoliosis Complications
Complications that can arise in patients with scoliosis include:
- Heart and lung disordersThis condition can occur when the ribs press against the heart and lungs.
- Chronic back painThis condition is usually experienced by adult scoliosis sufferers.
- Disturbing appearanceWhen the condition of scoliosis worsens, appearance will be disturbed, for example, the position of the shoulders or hips is not symmetrical, the ribs protrude, and the position of the waist and torso shifts.
- Spinal nerve damageThe spinal deformity in scoliosis can put pressure on the spinal cord, causing damage. Spinal cord damage can cause various disorders, such as impotence, urinary incontinence, stool incontinence, tingling, or weakness in the legs.