Different Types of Scoliosis for Best Treatment Options

Different Types of Scoliosis for Best Treatment Options

Scoliosis is an asymmetric spinal deformity wherein the spinal curve twists and turns to the side. It can affect individuals of any age and mostly starts in children aged between 10 to 16 years of age. The degree of curvature indicates the complexity of the problem.

  • Mild Cases: Curve is between 10 to 25 degrees
  • Moderate Cases: Curve is between 25 to 40 degrees
  • Severe Cases: Curve breaks 40 degrees and is between 40 to 80 degrees
  • Very Severe Case: Here curve breaks 80 degrees

Since scoliosis is progressive, it worsens with age. This highlights the importance of taking proactive actions to prevent it from touching the extremes. Years and years of untreated scoliosis can turn into severe scoliosis.

Receiving a diagnosis of scoliosis isn’t enough to identify the type of scoliosis. It is based on a range of associated causes and factors. The curve location, pattern, age of the patient during diagnosis, and the severity of scoliosis are important factors based on which the types of scoliosis id identified.

Idiopathic Scoliosis

The most common type of scoliosis is Idiopathic Scoliosis where the cause of the problem is usually unidentified. It is found among children aged between 10-18 years. In adults, it is called Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) and can be mild, moderate, severe, or very severe. This idiopathic scoliosis is usually identified in 80% of the cases where we don’t know the cause of scoliosis. The remaining 20% of the cases are the ones where the causes are known. These cases involve further 3 types of scoliosis: Neuromuscular Scoliosis, Congenital Scoliosis, and Degenerative Scoliosis.

Neuromuscular Scoliosis

After idiopathic scoliosis, neuromuscular scoliosis is the second most common type of scoliosis that results due to changes in the connective tissues. Under this condition, the connective tissues either become too relaxed or too rigid leading to the causation. Conditions that can cause neuromuscular scoliosis involve muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, Marfan syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), paralytic conditions, and more. Spinal fusion treatment is the best treatment option for neuromuscular scoliosis.

Congenital Scoliosis

Congenital scoliosis is usually found among patients born with malformed spines that develop in utero. This spinal deformity occurs due to a lack of proper formation of vertebrae in a baby’s spine during pregnancy. This can either be because of failure of formation or error of segmentation, leading to malformation. Spinal column resection, prophylactic surgery, and corrective surgery are some of the treatment options for congenital scoliosis.

Degenerative Scoliosis

Degenerative Scoliosis also known as adult-onset scoliosis, is caused over time by the wearing down of intervertebral discs and facet joints. When degeneration happens faster on one side of the spine than the other, it leads to the development of a scoliosis curve. Based on the severity of the problem, various treatment options are available. For mild to moderate cases physical therapy and braces are good to go and for severe cases, surgery is the option.

If you are in search of a corrective approach to treat scoliosis, then contact us at Scoliosis GTA today. Our team of experts is there to help you out. Schedule an appointment now.