Scoliosis - A Patient Primer.
Edited By: Theodore A. Wagner, M.D.
Last updated Wednesday, February 09, 2005
SymptomsAnatomy Scoliosis affects the vertebral bodies within the spinal column. In
idiopathic cases, the spine rotates about its long axis, resembling a
spiral staircase, and with time the vertebral bodies can become
misshapen and the intervertebal discs can become degenerated.Initial symptoms The early signs of scoliosis are subtle. In adolescents, parents will
often notice an asymmetry of the patient’s back, or perhaps different
should heights. Adults often notice a decrease in height, or that their
clothes fit differently, or their chest becomes prominent on one side.Symptoms Adolescents rarely have symptoms of pain or discomfort. Back pain in
children and adolescents can be a sign of something more ominous than
scoliosis, such as infection or tumor, and should be investigated.
Young children with scoliosis can have spinal cord involvement, which
may manifest itself as difficulty walking, stumbling, and spasms.
Patients with neuromuscular scoliosis may develop progressive loss of
balance while standing and sitting; they can also have progressive
difficulty with walking. Adults can experience back pain, fatigue,
sciatica, decreased walking tolerance, loss of height and leaning
forward or to one side.Progression Mild scoliosis may be asymptomatic- adolescents will usually present
with a cosmetic deformity only, but as a curve worsens they may
experience back pain or fatigue, often activity related. Patients with
neuromuscular scoliosis may develop progressive difficulty with
walking, and may have problems maintaining and upright posture either
sitting or standing. As adult scoliosis worsens, patients can suffer
from increasing pain and fatigue, which can lead to increasing
difficulty with activities of daily living.Surgery for scoliosis at the University of Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-4288 (outside the Seattle area: 800-440-3280) to make an appointment.
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