Scoliosis can be classified by age, cause, and location of curvature on the spine. Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common type and has an unknown cause. Congenital scoliosis is present at birth, while neuromuscular scoliosis is caused by a central nervous system disorder. Treatment depends on the type and severity, with some cases requiring no treatment, while others require surgery.
There are different types of scoliosis. They can be classified based on when scoliosis develops, the cause of the scoliosis, and where the curvature is located on the spine. Adult scoliosis, adolescent scoliosis, and juvenile scoliosis are the age-based types. Idiopathic scoliosis, congenital scoliosis, and neuromuscular scoliosis are based on the cause. Finally, the types related to where curvature of the spine occurs are thoracic curve scoliosis, lumbar curve scoliosis, and thoracolumbar curve scoliosis.
Scoliosis is a lateral curve of the spine. A healthy spine is straight from the neck to the hips. Symptoms of scoliosis include back pain and fatigue. A person with scoliosis may have visible symptoms, such as uneven hips or shoulders. Treatment of scoliosis largely depends on the type, and some cases require no treatment at all. Some mild types of scoliosis can be corrected with a brace, while other more serious ones require surgery.
Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common type of scoliosis. The word idiopathic means unknown cause. Conveniently, the cause of idiopathic scoliosis is unknown. It tends to run in families, which suggests it is hereditary. This type of scoliosis usually develops during adolescence and is more common in girls than boys.
Congenital scoliosis is caused by a congenital defect of the spine itself. This type of scoliosis is present at birth, but may not be noticed for several months or even years. Most cases of congenital scoliosis are caused by a defect called a hemivertebrae, in which one side of the spine lacks vertebrae. Another cause of this type of scoliosis is unsegmented parts of the spine that have not separated properly.
Neuromuscular scoliosis is quite common in people suffering from neuromuscular disorders. This type of scoliosis is caused by a central nervous system disorder. Some of these disorders include muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and navy syndrome. The treatment is specific to each case.
Age-based types of scoliosis are quite straightforward. Adult scoliosis develops during adulthood. Adolescent scoliosis occurs in patients between the ages of 10 and 18. If scoliosis is diagnosed between the ages of four and 10, it is classified as juvenile scoliosis. Interestingly, juvenile scoliosis is more common in males, while adolescent scoliosis is more common in females.
Thoracic curve scoliosis, lumbar curve scoliosis, and thoracolumbar curve scoliosis are types of scoliosis based on where the curvature is located on the spine. Thoracic curve scoliosis occurs when the curve is within the 12 thoracic vertebrae, between the cervical vertebrae and lumbar vertebrae. Lumbar curve scoliosis describes a curve in the lumbar vertebrae, in the lower back region of the spine. When the curvature affects both the lumbar and thoracic vertebrae, it is called thoracolumbar curve scoliosis.
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