Scoliosis & SPINE

Early-Onset Scoliosis

Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is a lateral (side-to-side) curve of the spine that is diagnosed before age 10. All patients with EOS are not the same. While some cases are “idiopathic” (no known cause), others are associated with an underlying condition that will affect how the patient is treated. While it is not possible to review all the different types of EOS, it is helpful to divide patients into categories when discussing treatment. As always, your surgeon can help you understand the specific issues that apply to your child.

• Idiopathic Cases: Infantile 0-3 years of age, Juvenile 4-10 years old. This type of scoliosis has no known cause
• Syndromic Cases: These cases are associated with various syndromes from genetic problems
• Neuromuscular Cases: TThese cases are associated with neurologic disorders such as cerebral palsy, Spina bifida, and the muscular dystrophies
• Congenital Case: These result from spinal vertebrae that did not develop normally and cause the spine to grow in an abnormal manner

Treatment for these is quite varied, as are the causes. Depending on your child’s problem and the size of their curve will determine the treatment required.

These include treatment with bracing or casting or surgery to control the curvature of the spine while allowing the spine to grow and the child’s lung to develop.