Anyone know about Scoliosis in children?

[wahwahwah]

An 10 year old relative has just been diagnosed. Will she need surgery?

Scoliosis is very common but has wildly different degrees of severity, and the type of treatment (and degree to which a child is incapacitated) will be dependent on the severity of the disease.

Some children have to wear a plaster cast for several years.

My niece has scoliosis - she's in Germany, and they have advised physiotherapy to help control it (as she is still growing, then I guess it can get worse as they grow). Both my mum and sister have it - my sister elected NOT to have surgery, and it doesn't cause her any problems other than she is conscious of her curved back (although its not totally obvious, unless you are looking for it). When she was diagnosed (think she was about 12), the Drs told her they wouldn't operate until she stopped growing anyway

As Bonsoir says, there are degrees of severity.

I have a dd2 with a scoliolis. It is the descriptive term for the shape of her back, and can be caused by differing factors.

This is what I have learned so far:

We all have a natural curvature to some extent. Nobody is plumb straight.

Some scolioses are postural and straighten when you lie down or are suspended (thats how the Consultant diagnosed it!), some have an underlying bone problem.

Some can be corrected or improved by exercises, others you just live with.

Surgery is often only considered if the scoliosis is causing other problems, eg restricting the use of arms due to shape of spine/causing serious chest health issues due to compression.

Surgery can be very uncomfortable and not always successful as it usually involved fusing bones or inserting metal rods.

Don't panic. It may be mild and she may well cope fine with it.

The doctor has said it is 50% and between the shoulder blades. I looked on the Scoliosis Association site and people with lesser curviture (is that the right term?) in degrees (so not sure if % and degrees are the same) have had surgery. The parents are very distressed. They are keen to see the 'top doctor' (London), not suprisingly.

Doesn't Gillian McKeith have this?

It's quite usual to see a specialist consultant rather than a general paediatrician. My dd2 sees a different consultant for each part of her body.

Best of luck to your (niece?) How does it affect her stance, movement etc? Surgery may not be necessary if it is postural.

my sister had the surgery at about 10 and came out about 2 inches taller... she had to deal with the cast and time off school but all in all it was a success and best not delayed or it would interfere with high school studies etc.

My dh has scoliosis. He did not need surgery or anything beyond physio. He also has a couple of other problems with ligaments and tendons that are potentially caused by the curvature but all controlled.

My best childhood friend had severe scoliosis affecting her breathing and movement. She had major surgery (insertion of metal rods) which caused other problems. She also wore a brace for many years. She's a physio now and while she still has associated problems and has had further surgery as an adult, she's just fine.

Most people fall somewhere inbetween dh and my df.

I think as the others have posted it can vary greatly.

My vicar as it - but has never had surgery or had any major issues arrising from it

On the other hand my BF's DD was diagnosed with this at her 20 weeks scan. Hers was very severe though - it was an actual "S" shape, and she had fused ribs on that side as well (so all in all not great as the way it was without surgery as she grew she'd have had serious chest issues and may not have even made it to 5 yrs old!)

She had to have surgery when she was 2 to remove the fused ribs and to have a metal bar inserted. Every 6-8 months she has to go down to Oxford to see the top bod there to have either the bar lengthened, or changed. As someone posted above - not pleasant.

However, to look at her (unless you know her well and can see the slight tilt she has as surgery is due, or look for the bar poking through her back when she bends over) you'd never guess

I would hazard a very amateur guess that if she's got to ten without any major problems that hopefully things aren't too serious

It depends on the degree to which she has it.

I have it but have never had surgery or a brace (did have physio) and was able to compete at national level as a gymnast until I was 14. I did my exercises religiously (still do) and have to be careful to maintain my core strength though and I've been told it may cause problems in pregnancy, but if she's only just been diagnosed at 10 it's unlikely to be too bad.

Is it very noticeable? How come shes been diagnosed? Has she been having problems for a long time or has it just become noticeable from a growth spurt.

On a side note if she needs serious treatment (or even if she doesn't) I recommend Deenie by Judy Blume. It's about a 13 year old but I read it when I was diagnosed at the age of 9.

I have scoliosis it was diagnosed when I was about 10 (now 33). I had to wear a plastic brace for 23hours a day for about 2 or 3 years to help stop it getting any more pronounced. It's not 'straight' now but doesn't cause me any problems. Hope it's a similar case for your niece.