Treatment

Treatment for scoliosis is based on:

• The person's age
• How much more he or she is likely to grow
• The degree and pattern of the curve
• The type of scoliosis.

The doctor may recommend observation, bracing, or surgery.

Observation

The doctor will check every 4 to 6 months to see if the curve is getting better or worse. Observation is used for those who have a curve of less than 25 degrees and are still growing.

Bracing

Doctors may advise wearing a brace to stop a curve from getting worse. Bracing may be used when:

• The person is still growing and has a curve of more than 25 to 30 degrees.
• The person is still growing and has a curve between 20 and 29 degrees that is getting worse.
• The person has at least 2 years of growth remaining and has a curve that is between 20 and 29 degrees. If a girl, she should not have started having her monthly periods yet.

Surgery

Doctors use surgery to correct a curve or stop it from getting worse when the person is still growing, the curve is more than 45 degrees, and the curve is getting worse. Surgery often involves fusing together two or more bones in the spine. The doctor may also put in a metal rod or other device. These devices are called implants. They stay in the body and help keep the spine straight after surgery.

Reference:

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, USA.