To alleviate discomfort and slow the progression of scoliosis—or abnormal side-to-side spinal curvature—St. Louis Children’s Hospital offers advanced, high-quality treatment options.
According to the National Scoliosis Foundation, scoliosis affects nearly 6 million children, teens and adults, with the typical onset occurring between ages 10 and 15. While everyone’s spine has a natural curvature, scoliosis tends to worsen over time and is characterized by the following:
- body leaning to one side
- head uncentered above the pelvis
- shoulders and rib cages at different heights
- one raised hip
- uneven waist
Screening and Treatment
Scoliosis is best treated when found early and can be detected during a routine school screening. Further diagnostic action can be taken by a physician with an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the spine to help determine the severity of the curve. With this information, the most appropriate treatment—usually bracing or surgery—can be determined.
“The goal of bracing is to prevent patients’ spinal curves from getting worse,” says Matthew Dobbs, MD, orthopedic surgeon on staff at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “For extreme curves, spinal fusion surgery can be a beneficial treatment option for preventing curve progression.”