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Things to Know About Scoliosis Screening

Things to Know About Scoliosis Screening

by | Aug 24, 2015 | Scoliosis & Spine

After summer break, many kids will be screened for scoliosis. Here is some information that you should know about the process:

  • What is scoliosis? Scoliosis is a progressive condition causing the spine to curve or twist into a “C” or “S” shape.
  • What causes scoliosis? The most common form of scoliosis is idiopathic, meaning there is no known cause. Despite some popular beliefs, scoliosis does not result from carrying heavy items, athletic activity, sleeping/standing postures, or minor lower limb length discrepancies. Researchers at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children identified the first genes associated with idiopathic scoliosis and hope the discovery will one day lead to identifying the cause of the spinal curvature.
  • How is it diagnosed? Scoliosis usually occurs in early adolescence (5th – 9th grade), becoming more noticeable during a growth spurt. The child’s physician or school nurse will screen for scoliosis by having the child perform the Adam’s Forward Bend Test to look for any unevenness or abnormalities in the shoulders, ribcage or back. They can also screen using a device called the scoliometer or by taking an X-ray.
  • Treatment: If your child has been told they have a curvature in the spine, their physician or school nurse can refer them to a health care provider such as Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. From there, the physician will find the proper treatment method for your child.
  • Note: Approximately 5 percent of the patients referred to Scottish Rite Hospital will need treatment:
    • 50 percent – are determined not to have scoliosis and are released from care
    • 45 percent – need observation
    • 2 percent – need a brace
    • 3 percent – need surgery

Watch this video from our Assistant Chief of Staff Dr. Karl Rathjen.

Scottish Rite Hospital Featured in The New York Times for Scoliosis Bracing Study

Scottish Rite Hospital Featured in The New York Times for Scoliosis Bracing Study

by | Sep 19, 2013 | Press Coverage, Scoliosis & Spine

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children’s young patients are accustomed to receiving top-flight, technologically-based treatment for a variety of conditions, but a recent study examining the effectiveness of back braces to correct scoliosis proves that, sometimes, old school methods still produce the most desirable outcome.

The randomized study, which was published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, provided verifiable proof that the 50-year-old practice of bracing children with scoliosis brings significant pain relief, and helps young people avoid delicate surgery to correct the condition.

The practice of using braces was brought into question several years ago after the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended discontinuing scoliosis screening in schools because of insufficient evidence that bracing helped children.

A Difficult Condition to Treat
Scoliosis is a progressive condition that causes the spine to curve from side to side. The curve typically is three-dimensional, and is shaped like a “C” or an “S.” It’s caused by congenital vertebral anomalies and, in some cases, is idiopathic.

Outside of bracing, common treatments include spinal fusion surgery in which physicians place screws in the spine to straighten it out. Although scoliosis surgery produces excellent results, patients face all of the inherent risks of undergoing surgery.

The Proof Physicians Are Looking For
The study analyzed data on 242 patients at 25 sites in the United States and Canada. Patients were 10 to 15 years old, and all had spinal curvature of 20 to 40 degrees. The analysis indicates that among the children that wore a brace 18 hours a day, 72 percent were successfully treated, versus 48 percent that were observed without a brace.

Additionally, researchers noted that the longer a teen wore the brace, the more successful treatment was. More than 90 percent of young people who realized the best outcomes from bracing wore the device more than 13 hours per day.

However, bracing was deemed a failure if a child’s curvature progressed to 50 percent or more, which is the point at which surgery becomes imperative.

Dr. B. Stephens Richards told the New York Times that evidence cited in the study was “very convincing.”

“It scientifically proves that brace treatment works for adolescents with scoliosis who are at risk of curve worsening to the point of needing surgery,” he said.

Read the full article at the New York Times…