Scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine, is a medical condition we don’t always consider until your child or someone you know gets diagnosed with it. In fact, for many of us, our only personal experience with the condition may be that awkward screening they did in middle school.

In this blog, Neil Bhamb, MD, an expert in treating scoliosis and spinal abnormalities, explains this condition, how it can impact your health, and the treatment options available.

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis affects about 2 to 3% of all Americans, both children and adults. Each year, about 3 million new cases of scoliosis are diagnosed in the United States alone.

Scoliosis is a progressive condition that appears as an abnormal “S” or “C”-shaped curvature of the spine. Children and adults can have scoliosis, although it’s more common in adolescents ages 10 and 12. Girls are more likely to suffer from severe scoliosis symptoms than adolescent boys.

Your doctor classifies the severity of each case and the associated recommended treatment options by the degree of the curve. The medical definition of scoliosis is a spine curvature of 10 degrees or greater. Mild scoliosis is a curve under 20 degrees. Moderate scoliosis is between 25 and 40 degrees, and over 50 degrees is a severe curve.

Adults with scoliosis have had it since childhood but never got treated or received surgical treatment. Other adults are diagnosed with adult-onset scoliosis, which happens to patients aged 65 and over and is due to generative discs and joints or bone density issues.

Although genetics and family medical history play a role in scoliosis, about 80% of all scoliosis cases are classified as having an unknown origin. During a scoliosis evaluation, Dr. Bhamb asks questions about family history of scoliosis, and performs a physical exam, X-rays, and other imaging tests to make a diagnosis.

Most scoliosis cases do not require treatment

Keep in mind that if Dr. Bhamb diagnoses you or your child with scoliosis, it isn’t inevitable that he needs to treat the condition. Only about 30% of all scoliosis patients require treatment.

If your doctor diagnoses you or your child with mild scoliosis and there aren’t other undying symptoms like back pain or trouble breathing, you enter a watch-and-wait phase. For adolescents, this crucial period is when your child is still growing.

The monitoring phase goal is to ensure that the degree of the curve doesn’t worsen. In this scenario, adolescent patients visit for regular checkups every four to six months for physical exams and X-rays, as needed. Your doctor monitors adult patients less frequently unless their condition triggers symptoms like pain, leg numbness, or weakness.  

Although most patients diagnosed with scoliosis don’t wear a brace, your provider may recommend it for children with moderate scoliosis who are still growing. The overarching goal of bracing is to prevent the curve from progressing. The good news is if your child needs to wear a brace, today’s braces are a far cry from the traditional styles and materials used years ago.

Surgery for severe cases

Fortunately, surgery for scoliosis happens rarely and only in the most severe cases. Only about 10% of all scoliosis cases require surgery. Your doctor may recommend surgery when the curvature has progressed to over 45 to 50 degrees or if mitigation tactics like bracing have failed.

At this advanced level, the patient is usually experiencing discomfort, having problems breathing, or their lung function is at risk. In these instances, Dr. Bhamb recommends a surgical procedure called spine fusion, also known as spinal fusion.

A spine fusion surgery can take several hours to complete. After administering a general anesthetic, Dr. Bhamb fuses two or more vertebrae in the treatment area. By connecting the vertebrae, movement is prevented and nerve compression – the source of the pain and discomfort – gets halted.

The fusion process also results in a loss of range of motion in that part of the spine. As a renowned expert in performing minimally invasive spine surgery or MISS and ESS (endoscopic spine surgery), Dr. Bhamb uses MISS and techniques that complete spine fusion.

This approach results in less trauma, which increases the chance of preserving more range of motion. But that’s not all. Less trauma also translates into less pain, expedited recovery times, and a reduced risk for surgical complications.

If you or a family member observes signs of scoliosis, contact us today to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Bhamb. You can book your appointment online or call us at our Santa Monica or Century City, California, office.