Scoliosis Awareness Day

Today is The Scoliosis Awareness Day In The Netherlands. Because I am a scoliosis patient to I support this day.

The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.

Scoliosis is a lateral (toward the side) curvature in the normally straight vertical line of the spine. When viewed from the side, the spineshould show a mild roundness in the upper back and shows a degree of swayback (inward curvature) in the lower back. When a person with a normal spine is viewed from the front or back, the spine appears to be straight. When a person with scoliosis is viewed from the front or back, the spine appears to be curved.

IT’s Scoliosis Awareness Day! So sharing is caring!

Everybody Needs To Know What Causes Scoliosis?

There are many types and causes of scoliosis, including:
Congenital scoliosis

Caused by a bone abnormality present at birth.

Neuromuscular scoliosis

A result of abnormal muscles or nerves. Frequently seen in people with spina bifida or cerebral palsy or in those with various conditions that are accompanied by, or result in, paralysis.

Degenerative scoliosis

This may result from traumatic (from an injury or illness) bone collapse, previous major back surgery, orosteoporosis (thinning of the bones).

Idiopathic scoliosis

The most common type of scoliosis, idiopathic scoliosis, has no specific identifiable cause. There are many theories, but none have been found to be conclusive. There is, however, strong evidence that idiopathic scoliosis is inherited.
What Is the Treatment for Scoliosis?

Treatments for scoliosis

Braces
Bracing is the usual treatment choice for adolescents who have a spinal curve between 25 degrees to 40 degrees – particularly if their bones are still maturing and if they have at least 2 years of growth remaining. The purpose of bracing is to halt progression of the curve. It may provide a temporary correction, but usually the curve will assume its original magnitude when bracing is eliminated.

Surgery
Those who have curves beyond 40 degrees to 50 degrees are often considered for scoliosis surgery. The goal is to make sure the curve does not get worse, but surgery does not perfectly straighten the spine. During the procedure, metallic implants are utilized to correct some of the curvature and hold it in the correct position until a bone graft, placed at the time of surgery, consolidates and creates a rigid fusion in the area of the curve. Scoliosis surgery usually involves joining the vertebrae together permanently – called spinal fusion.
In young children, another technique that does not involve fusion may be used because fusion stops growth of the fused part of the spine. In this case, a brace must always be worn after surgery.