Diagnosis & Treatment for Early Onset Scoliosis in Children

Early onset scoliosis (EOS) is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine found in children under the age of 10 years.

More than 100,000 kids are diagnosed with scoliosis each year in the USA and most have adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, or AIS. AIS is one of the most common types of scoliosis and it can affect kids between the ages of 10 to 18. EOS is significantly rarer and often more complex in character.

Types of Early Onset Scoliosis

Doctors have recognized several types of EOS. Most types of EOS have an obvious trigger and are associated with individual health issues. On the other hand, a general number of EOS cases are idiopathic, meaning they have no recognized cause and are identified based on the age at diagnosis.

Below are kinds of EOS:

• Congenital scoliosis occurs when the bones of the spine do not form properly in the mother’s womb.
• Neuromuscular scoliosis is caused by brain, spinal cord, or muscular system disorders (such as muscular dystrophy). These disorders prevent the back muscles from holding the spine straight.
• Syndromicscoliosis develops as part of an underlying syndrome or disorder that affects numerous parts of the body (such as Prader-Willi
• Syndrome; a rare disease affecting development).
• Infantile idiopathic scoliosis is diagnosed in children ages birth to 3 years. It has no known cause.
• Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis is diagnosed in children ages 4 to 10. It has no known cause.

Early Onset Scoliosis Symptoms

EOS can be difficult to identify, as some children don’t have a serious spinal curve and might not have pain that stops them from their typical exercise. The primary factor to keep in mind, however, is symmetry, as it could reveal an issue when all other indications point to a regular spine.

Below are the most frequent indicators of EOS:

• The body appears to lean to one side
• Shoulders look uneven, with one shoulder blade sticking out more
• Waistline is uneven
• Hip height appears off balance
• Ribs protrude on one side more

Early Onset Scoliosis Diagnosis

Your child’s pediatrician, pediatric orthopedist, or spinal specialist can identify EOS utilizing a number of methods.

Physical exams including the Adam’s forward bend test, will expose a prominence, hump or deviation of the backbone, or spine, indicating an irregular curvature. But, it’ imaging scans, namely x-rays, that doctors count on most to validate EOS.

The doctor will simply take standing x-rays of your child’s spine to properly see the entire nature of the scoliosis. Typically, one x-ray is taken from back to front (called a posterior-anterior x-ray) and the second is from the side (called lateral x-ray). Other x-rays may possibly contain bending from aspect-to-facet.

Your doctor may possibly also request a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test in order to rule out underlying involvement of the spinal-cord along with other buildings or CT scan to show 3 D views of the bone constructions.

Because x-rays are used throughout the monitoring process throughout therapy, and to identify scoliosis, individuals have raised concerns over radiation. With this consideration in mind, doctors limit the number of x-rays that a child may use direct shields to safeguard breast and thyroid tissue and wants, lower dose x-rays, as well as light-based scans of the physique form.

Early Onset Scoliosis Treatment

There are four general approaches for managing EOS:

• Observation
• Spinal bracing
• Body casting
• Spine surgery

Observation

Your physician may suggest an observation period prior to any active treatment is warranted, as some times the scoliosis even correct itself as your child grows especially with very little curves in really young kids and will stabilize. This generally indicates attending normal follow up appointments together with your doctor throughout the year to determine any adjustments in your child’s curve.

Spinal Bracing

Spinal bracing is a typical nonsurgical treatment for EOS. Your physician works with an orthotist to craft a custom spinal brace for your child. The objective of the brace is not necessarily to correct the scoliosis but to avoid the curve from progressing.

Body Casting

Body casting may be advised for kids between SIX MONTHS months and 6 years of age who have curves likely to to succeed. Body casts are custom made and placed while your child is asleep under general anesthesia. Casts can be in spot for up to 12 months, so that your child will require a sequence of casts throughout therapy. A cast may possibly be employed for more severe curves or in cases in which a brace fails to prevent the curve from getting worse. Often the forged is used to delay the need for spine surgery that is ideally performed after much of your child’s growth is complete. A brace is often used for the same purpose.

Spine Surgery

If your child has a severe curve of 50-levels or higher, spine surgery is considered but usually delayed before the curvature is significantly greater and the child is bigger and h-AS finished more development.

There are various surgical methods for EOS, including expanding rod surgery, VEPTR® (vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib), vertebral physique tethering, growth guided gadgets, and spinal fusion.

Recovery Potential for Early Onset Scoliosis

It could be scary for each of you when your youngster is identified with early onset scoliosis. The remedies obtainable today are highly-successful at managing or even correcting the curve. Your encouragement and support along with the determination of your pediatric spine specialist will help your child respond well to treatment, and lead a pleased and full life.

Identifying Scoliosis in Children (Video)

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 . 
By Dr. Alex Jimenez

Additional Topics: Scoliosis Pain and Chiropractic

According to recent research studies, chiropractic care and exercise can substantially help correct scoliosis. Scoliosis is a well-known type of spinal misalignment, or subluxation, characterized by the abnormal, lateral curvature of the spine. While there are two different types of scoliosis, chiropractic treatment techniques, including spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, are safe and effective alternative treatment measures which have been demonstrated to help correct the curve of the spine, restoring the original function of the spine.

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