Scoliosis Is a Disease of the Musculoskeletal System Essay Example

into age groups; the infantile, juvenile, adolescent, and the adult. In these cases as the child develops and begins to go through growth spurts the doctor may notice something abnormal about the spines development. Idiopathic scoliosis runs in the family, so if you have it chances are your children will also have it.

Truth is that anyone can get scoliosis. Not everyone who has scoliosis has symptoms or complaint of back pain. Not even those with an 80 degree curvature. Thirty states require that students get screened at school.

1. These screenings are usually done in the 6th and 7th grade when a child starts going through puberty, so it will help with early detection.
2. The reason why not every state does this is because of the costs. Not all schools can afford to pay for a screening program.

According to the “Scoliosis

Research Society of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons”, only 10% of adolescents have a serious degree of scoliosis. Less than that 10% have scoliosis that requires any type of treatment.

1. Statistically a young girl’s spine curvature tends to increase over time more rapidly and significantly than a young boy’s spine curves.
2. As stated in “the Scoliosis Sourcebook” by Doctors Michael Neuwirth and Kevin Osborn, researchers have not been able to determine which one of the many differences between the males and females contribute to the higher incidences and faster rate of progression of scoliosis curves in females. They believe hormonal differences may be a factor. Link: Finally, I would like to tell you about the options a person with scoliosis has.

Before I explain what the options are I would like tell you what are some things to look for when checking yourself and/or your children for scoliosis. One hip may look higher than the other, one shoulder blade may look bigger, the neckline is uneven, a curve in the spine in the most obvious, or any other improper alignments can be a clue. Doing the Adams forward bend test can help to check for a rib hump.

If detected early, before the child’s skeletal structure has matured, a back brace (orthopedic brace) is the first and most recommended option by orthopedists.

• A back brace is used to attempt to halt further curve progression. Some patients’ curvature degree may not change, but in a few cases it can get smaller. Bracing is recommended to patients with a curvature of 25 or greater degree.
• The first kind of brace and most common is called the Boston or
  

TLSO (Thoraco-Lumbo-Sacral-Orthosis) brace. The brace is fitted to the patient’s body and custom molded with plastic. It is worn under clothing and it is typically not noticed. Worn 23 hours a day.

Even if scoliosis is detected early no one will know how the curvature will progress, so it is important to check regularly so that it will not get worse. If bracing is not an option the other option would be surgery.

The curve would have to be more than 40 or 45 degrees and demonstrate continued progression, with or without serve back pain. Although the Harrington- rod surgery is the best- known surgical treatment, it is no longer commonly used. When the patient undergoes spinal- fusion the surgeon anchors the hard-ware to the spine through the uses of screws, hooks, or wires. By doing this the surgeon corrects the curvature and allows flexibility in the spine. Link: As you can see those were the options one with scoliosis has.

CONCLUSION

Summary Statement: I hope that you have learned what scoliosis is, who can get scoliosis, and what the options for you and/or your children are.