By Dr. Anthony Pivonka D.C. – Head Scoliosis Clinician, ScoliCare East Phoenix Arizona

The Underlying Factors You Need to Know

Did you know that there are several causes for scoliosis? The most common type of scoliosis (80%) is termed “Idiopathic” or of unknown origin. That means that 20% of scoliosis cases are of a known origin. These other origins or etiologies for scoliosis are Neuromuscular, Congenital and Pathological. Scoliosis causes three dimensional, structural changes to the spine and overall posture. If you or your child are living with scoliosis it is important that you understand your specific type of scoliosis and your treatment pathway options.

Let’s look at the various types of scoliosis.

Neuromuscular Scoliosis

Neuromuscular Scoliosis evolves when the curve is triggered by an underlying neurological condition, for example after a spinal cord injury or in a patient with neurological condition from birth. Sometimes the spinal cord can fill with fluid, known as a syrinx, and this can create problems for the spine, resulting in the development of scoliosis. In many instances, the scoliosis in these situations may initially appear to be idiopathic, and the underlying syrinx is missed. When a patient is being assessed for scoliosis, the treating health professional should be able to conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the scoliosis is idiopathic, or if there are signs or symptoms of an underlying condition, such as a syrinx, that is causing the scoliosis. In this example the patient would require an MRI and possibly further evaluation to determine the best course of action. Early detection and management of these conditions is essential.

Congenital Scoliosis

Congenital Scoliosis is scoliosis subsequent to a spinal birth defect. The common types are hemi-vertebra, non-segmentation and unilateral bars. A Hemi-vertebra, as the name suggests, is a vertebra that only forms on one side creating a wedge shape. This wedge will cause the spine to unbalance, leading to large scoliosis curves. Non-segmentation is when two adjacent vertebrae fail to separate on one side resulting in a wedged deformity, unbalancing the spine and often bringing about a scoliosis. A unilateral bar may also exist in infants when three or more vertebrae fail to separate on one side resulting in a curved spine and scoliosis. Congenital deformities of the spine should be assessed by a health professional trained to analyze the presentation of the patient on X-ray.

Pathological Scoliosis

Pathologic causes are more rare than other types. In these instances a scoliosis may develop as a result of an underlying pathological condition or disease processes in the bone, spinal cord or other organs. This could be due to cancers, bone disorders or connective tissue disorders. Clinically, we have seen people present with childhood cases of scoliosis caused by cancerous tumors in the adrenal gland and spinal cord. In these instances we identified that the scoliosis was non-idiopathic and the patients were referred for appropriate care by suitably trained health professionals.

Scoliosis Specific Treatment in Arizona

Scoliosis specific treatment is available from the ScoliCare team in East Phoenix (Gilbert) Arizona. ScoliCare’s vision is to provide the right treatment at the right time. To find out more about scoliosis and the treatment options available, visit our website or call us on 480-892-0022.