Spine Conditions: Congenital Scoliosis

Understanding the Causes Of Your Congenital Scoliosis

Your child’s pediatrician will typically detect congenital scoliosis during their first examination of birth, due to an abnormality of their spine. Though, for some it can go unnoticed for years until it becomes easily visible to either the child or parents.*

Congenital scoliosis can be caused when any of the following occur while the baby is in the womb*:

• Abnormalities in the vertebres
• One or more missing bones in the spine
• Partially formed bones
• Vertebrae that fail to separate

It is common for children with congenital scoliosis to form other curves in their spine as their bodies way of trying to compensate for the deformity.*

Diagnosing Your Congenital Scoliosis

Typically scoliosis is not painful, which is why it sometimes goes undetected until later in life. Most symptoms are visible curvatures as opposed to any pain. In order to receive optimal care and treatment, early detection is necessary.*

Some symptoms that patients and families can look out for are*:

• Uneven or tilted shoulders
• A rotation of the neck causing the head to tilt in one direction
• The prominence of the ribs on one side
• Uneven waistline/hips
• Visible lean to one side
• Weakness, numbness or a loss of coordination

A physician will thoroughly review your family’s medical history and perform a physical examination on your child. The forward bend test can detect scoliosis but not the presence of congenital abnormalities. Imaging tests can provide more information, and you may find your child’s physician using one of the following tests*:

• EOS imaging uses an ultra-low dose of radiation to produce three-dimensional models from two planar images. EOS images are taken while the child is in an upright or standing position.
• X-rays are a common testing tool which will show images of your child’s back and side, showing any curvatures or abnormalities.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnets, radio waves, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan uses both X-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (“slices”) of the body. They produce detailed images of the vertebrae.

Treatment Options For Your Congenital Scoliosis

Depending on the severity of your child’s diagnosis, your doctor may recommend one of the following treatment options.*

Nonsurgical Treatments

• Bracing– Braces or casts are effective for some patients whose condition isn’t severe enough for surgery, they can also help control compensatory curves. Bracing is typically recommended for those whose curves are less than 25 degrees.

Surgical Treatments:

• Growing Rods– Implanting growing rods, which are attached to the spine at two spots, both above and below the curve will help correct any spinal curvatures and allow continuous spinal growth. Most children will return every six months to have their rods expanded.
• Spinal Fusion– This is a surgery in which the vertebrae are straightened and fused together with metal implants to help correct and hold the curvature. The surgery allows the fused vertebrae to heal as a solid bone.
• Hemivertebra Removal– By removing a single hemivertebra it can allow your child’s spinal curvature to straighten and maintain its growth using metal implants.

With several treatment options to help correct congenital scoliosis, your child’s physician will take many factors into account when diagnosing them. The type of abnormality, the severity of curvatures, and other health conditions will help determine the best plan of care.*

*The effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment will vary by patient and condition. New York Spine Institute does not guarantee certain results.