Scoliosis is a spinal condition that typically begins to manifest in childhood and young adulthood. Normal, healthy spines curve in a slight S-shape, while scoliosis causes the spine to curve in a lateral manner. Without proper treatment, scoliosis can result in pain, imbalances, or cosmetic issues. Timely intervention and monitoring should begin as soon as the condition is noticed. This article breaks down the importance of growth-period interventions and mature-spine approaches. Patients should discuss interventional methods and treatment options with their spinal specialist.

Treating Scoliosis By Age Group

Early intervention is best for treating scoliosis – As the patient gets older and their body changes, scoliosis becomes more difficult to treat, and different methods must be employed. Here’s why early intervention is essential:

• Greater responsiveness to bracing: When we’re children, our spines are still developing and are much more responsive to guided growth or bracing. By the time we become adults, the growth plates in our spines fuse and lose elasticity. Adult spines are also at higher risk of degeneration.
• Developmental impact: Children are much more psychosocially adaptable than adults. Dealing with bracing and treatment during school and puberty can be easier than living with chronic discomfort, nerve compression, or posture changes as an adult who has to navigate the world and handle responsibilities. 
• Different risk tolerances: Children may be able to be treated with non-invasive methods like bracing, whereas adults may require surgery in order to alleviate nerve pain. 

Treatment Options For Children

Here are the main treatment options we use when treatment children with scoliosis:

Non-Surgical Strategies

• Bracing: Bracing is one of the most common treatments for growing children with moderate abnormalities in spinal curvature. The TLSO (Thoraco-Lumbar-Sacral Othosis) brace type, one of the most popular types of braces, is worn 16-20 hours per day. The goal of bracing is to halt the progression of scoliosis as the child is growing. With the proper application and emotional support, this method has been shown to correct side-bending.
• Physical therapy and exercises to improve spinal alignment and reduce risk of progression
• Early intervention and monitoring: The spinal specialist will keep tabs on progression and take X-rays every six months; more aggressive interventions may be necessary is the curve worsens.

Surgical Options

In certain cases, the curvature may progress even with bracing. If the curvature exceeds 45-50 degrees, then spinal fusion surgery may be required. New innovations such as magnetically controlled growing rods for extremely young children can also reduce long-term progression.

Adult Scoliosis Treatments

• Conservative management using physical therapy, NSAIDs, and epidural injections or nerve blocks
• Interventional and surgical treatment such as spinal fusion and instrumentation. There are also options for minimally invasive procedures, depending on the case, and vertebral body tethering.

Contact Us Today

Left untreated, scoliosis can result in progressively worsening pain, a limited range of motion, and cosmetic concerns. Treating scoliosis in children can prevent more drastic measures being necessary as an adult and reduce the amount of pain, degeneration, and pinched nerves that may develop with the condition. The Spine and Scoliosis Center is a top spinal clinic with locations around Florida. Call The Spine and Scoliosis Center for an appointment today.