Idiopathic Scoliosis

Idiopathic Scoliosis Care Locations

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Idiopathic Scoliosis Treatments

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Our award-winning, internationally recognized physicians treat more than 10,000 children with scoliosis each year.

The most common type of scoliosis, idiopathic scoliosis, is as individual as each child. The care team at Shriners Children's, with their extensive experience, is with you every step.

Idiopathic scoliosis is one of three types of scoliosis that causes the spine to develop an abnormal curve. Idiopathic means the cause is unknown. Idiopathic scoliosis can run in families and affects girls more often than boys. Idiopathic scoliosis typically appears after age 10. In many cases, idiopathic scoliosis is a small curve and doesn't require treatment, but will be closely monitored as your child grows.

Early detection makes an incredible impact on the success rate of correcting the curve. Shriners Children's provides many treatment options that may allow the child to not require surgery. Our care team will partner with you on your child's idiopathic scoliosis journey and make decisions together for the best outcome.

Our care team includes orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, physical therapists, recreation therapists, child life specialists, occupational therapists, anesthesiologists, nurses and more. Each member of the team plays an important role in caring for your child.

Specific treatments and services may vary by location. Please contact a specific location for more information.

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Types of Idiopathic Scoliosis

Although idiopathic scoliosis can occur at any age, it most often develops around adolescence. Every growth spurt increases the risk. There are three types of idiopathic scoliosis:

Infantile idiopathic scoliosis can be detected as early as in the womb to 3 years of age
Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis is detected in children between ages 3 to 9
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is detected in children between ages 10 to 18

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Symptoms of Scoliosis

Your child’s pediatrician or their school nurse may have been the first to notice the curve in your child’s spine, but a curve is not the only scoliosis symptom to be aware of. As your child continues to grow, you can look for other symptoms to share with their pediatrician and orthopedic specialist. Pay special attention during their teen years when growth spurts are common. Look for scoliosis symptoms like:

Leaning to one side
One shoulder appearing higher than the other
One shoulder blade sticking out farther than the other
One hip appearing higher than the other
Head appearing not properly centered over the body
When bending from the waist, the ribs on one side are higher
Waistline appearing flat on one side
Clothes not fitting correctly
Hems that aren’t hanging evenly

Talk to us about anything you’ve noticed that may be a scoliosis symptom or have questions about. Once your child is a Shriners Children's patient, we’ll keep a close eye on them with X-rays and other imaging as needed.

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Learn About Idiopathic Scoliosis Treatments

When you and your child meet our scoliosis treatment team, you’ll discover we're always moving forward. Our physicians stay active in the medical community, continue their training and eagerly incorporate the latest evidence-based treatments for scoliosis into their practices. Often it is our own physicians developing the methods for these treatments, while working in partnership with the FDA and industry partners.

Every scoliosis treatment plan is as unique as your child. Read about all the scoliosis treatment options here and several of the most common below.

Observation

Sometimes the best treatment is time. Your child’s doctor will talk to you about the measurement of the curve in their spine and what that measurement means for his or her treatment. If the curve measures less than 20 degrees, our spine team will examine your child and take low-dose X-rays every four to six months during their growing years to see how the curve is changing (also called curve progression). In most cases, if the curve is not progressing, your child will not need treatment.

Scoliosis-specific Exercises

If your child does not wear a back brace, they may safely perform scoliosis-specific exercises. They'll be shown how do to them by our trained and certified therapists, learning individualized exercises to improve the alignment of their posture and minimize the progression of the spinal curvature. These poses are sometimes called scoliosis stretching exercises. They'll perform these exercises daily to increase their strength and maintain the correction. This approach addresses the 3-D characteristics of scoliosis and is based on the Schroth method.

Mehta Casting

Mehta casting is an option for children typically between 6 months and 5 years, and it can be used instead of bracing. Casting is often used to delay or prevent the need for scoliosis surgery.

A Mehta cast is a plaster cast applied from a child’s collarbone to the bottom of their spine. Once the cast hardens, it holds the spine in position by applying gentle pressure. Children need a new cast every two to three months, with each one straightening the spine a bit more. Some children may transition to a brace as they get older.

Bracing

Our orthopedic physicians may recommend bracing if the curve is moderate (between 25 and 40 degrees) or if it is progressing. The brace will need to be worn until your child stops growing, or until their doctors recommend a different type of treatment. It's important to note that bracing is not always effective and sometimes the curve increases anyway. In this instance, surgery may be necessary.

Halo Traction

This is a unique form of treatment for severe cases of scoliosis, offered at a limited number of pediatric hospitals in the United States. Shriners Children’s is finding excellent results with halo traction, an in-patient treatment option.

The halo is a ring device held in place on a child’s skull using several pins. It is held upright through a pulley system attached to a bed, a wheelchair or walker. A child’s head is lifted upward to lengthen the spine and stretch out surrounding soft tissue. By stretching the spine, there is an increase in the vertical height of a child's chest, which improves lung capacity and breathing.

On average, patients see a correction of 35% or more after three to four weeks in traction. A halo treatment is followed by spinal correction surgery to maintain this significant improvement. A team of child life specialists, physical/occupational therapists and other members of the care team partner with our surgeons during a child’s long-term stay at Shriners Children's for the halo process. The result is often life-changing.

Growing Rods

During a scoliosis surgery, two telescoping rods are inserted through the back and attached to the spine above and below the curve, with hooks or screws. Children return for treatment every six months to have the rods lengthened to match their growth. With a growing rods treatment, the spine continues to grow while being guided by the rods to create better alignment of the spine.

MAGEC Rods

The MAGEC (MAGnetic Expansion Control) spinal bracing and distraction system is composed of two magnetic, telescoping rods that are gradually lengthened from outside of the skin using a magnet. This pioneering procedure for young children with scoliosis helps reduce the number of surgeries they may experience during childhood, which decreases their exposure to general anesthesia and limits the number of incisions they would experience over several years.

Vertebral Body Tethering

Our pediatric spine surgeons are leading the way in this treatment. The Vertebral Body Tethering System differs from a typical scoliosis surgery called a “spinal fusion,” which involves implanting stiff metal rods along either side of a child’s spine to straighten the curve.

Rather than stiff metal rods, The Tether™ uses a strong, flexible cord attached to the spine. When the vertebrae are pulled by the cord, it puts pressure on the tall side of the vertebrae on the outside of the curve. This pressure slows the growth on the tall side of the vertebrae, so that the short side can grow and catch up. The system permanently straightens the spine using a child’s own growth process. Unlike spinal fusion, the spine is still able to bend and flex, rather than being fixed in place with the stiff metal rods.

Spinal Fusion Surgery

The goal of this surgery is to fuse the spine, correcting the spine curvature and preventing further progression. Fusion surgery involves attaching rods, hooks, wires or screws to the curve and placing small pieces of bone over the spine. The bone pieces (taken from the child during surgery or donated) will grow together with the child's spinal bone, fusing it in the proper position. Although the spine may not be made completely straight, the curve will be less than it was before surgery.

A surgeon may recommended spinal fusion for a child who is at least 10 years old with a curve greater than 45 degrees and increasing; or for a child whose curve is greater than 50 degrees once they have finished growing.

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I have been going to Shriners Children's since I was 3 years old. After two surgeries and a lot of therapy, I have been able to be like other kids. My doctor is amazing and I am so glad she is in my life!
Gannon, Salt Lake City

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About This Location","ctaLink":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/st-louis"},"itemId":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/st-louis"},{"title":"Shriners Children's Texas","image":"https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/shrinershosf393-shriners4ad9-prodb963-58d8/media/project/shriners/shc/migration-images/related-locations-dropdown-carousel/texas-building-exterior-961x640-63296-ashx.jpeg?h=640&iar=0&w=961","imageAlt":"texas-building-exterior-961x640-63296-ashx","text":"Pediatric specialty care for children throughout Texas and beyond","ctaItem":{"ctaLinkIcon":"https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/shrinershosf393-shriners4ad9-prodb963-58d8/media/icons/si-nonhero-icons-_-24x24px/solid-white-_-24x24px/mappin_24x24_whitesolid.svg?iar=0","ctaLinkText":"More About This Location","ctaLink":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/texas"},"itemId":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/texas"},{"title":"Shriners Children's Twin Cities","image":"https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/shrinershosf393-shriners4ad9-prodb963-58d8/media/project/shriners/shc/migration-images/related-locations-dropdown-carousel/twin-cities-building-exterior-961x640-65422-ashx.jpeg?h=640&iar=0&w=961","imageAlt":"twin-cities-building-exterior-961x640-65422-ashx","text":"Pediatric specialty care for children throughout Minnesota and beyond","ctaItem":{"ctaLinkIcon":"https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/shrinershosf393-shriners4ad9-prodb963-58d8/media/icons/si-nonhero-icons-_-24x24px/solid-white-_-24x24px/mappin_24x24_whitesolid.svg?iar=0","ctaLinkText":"More About This Location","ctaLink":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/twin-cities"},"itemId":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/twin-cities"},{"title":"Shriners Children's Vancouver 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","ctaItem":{"ctaLinkIcon":"https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/shrinershosf393-shriners4ad9-prodb963-58d8/media/icons/si-nonhero-icons-_-24x24px/solid-white-_-24x24px/mappin_24x24_whitesolid.svg?iar=0","ctaLinkText":"More About This Location","ctaLink":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/portland/clinics/vancouver-wa-clinic"},"itemId":"https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/portland/clinics/vancouver-wa-clinic"}]}

Growing Rods for your Growing Child

During a surgery, two telescoping rods are inserted through the child's back and attached to the spine above and below the curve, with hooks or screws. Children return for treatment every six months to have the rods lengthened to match their growth. With a growing rods treatment, the spine continues to grow while being guided by the rods to create better alignment of the spine.

Learn about Growing Rods

Innovative Treatments

Scoliosis Specific Exercises

Scoliosis specific exercises offered by physical therapists at Shriners Children’s aim to correct and slow the progression of a spinal curve, reduce pain and improve posture, breathing and quality of life.

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Mehta Casting

Shriners Children's orthopedic surgeons specialize in the application of Mehta casts – an option to treat the curvature of the spine in children diagnosed with infantile scoliosis.

Bracing

Shriners Children's multidisciplinary team includes orthotists who create braces to meet the individual need of each child – whether to treat a complex condition or common injury.

Halo Traction

Shriners Children's skilled physicians use halo traction as a first step in correcting severe scoliosis, kyphosis and other spine deformities. The treatment carefully pulls a child's head and spine upward, applying a slow stretch.

Growing Rods

Shriners Children's provides growing rods for children who have not reached skeletal maturity. They are placed along the spine to correct a spinal curve and allow continued growth of the spine.

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MAGEC System

Shriners Children’s pioneered the use of the MAGEC System for treating early onset scoliosis. This magnetic rod-lengthening treatment gently guides the growth of the spine, without repeated surgeries.

Spinal Fusion Surgery

Spinal fusion surgery stabilizes and corrects the curvature of the spine; and for scoliosis and kyphosis, prevents further curvature of the spine. Stabilizing the spine can improve movement, reduce pain and restore lung function.

Next Steps

Request an Appointment

Families and caregivers seeking treatment should start by contacting us for an appointment.

Get Started

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Log in to the Patient Portal

Parents and guardians of existing patients can email, request records, schedule appointments and more.

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Refer a Patient

Physicians and healthcare providers can request appointments, start transfers or contact us with questions.

Send Referral

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Idiopathic Scoliosis

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Our award-winning, internationally recognized physicians treat more than 10,000 children with scoliosis each year.

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Observation

Scoliosis-specific Exercises

Mehta Casting

Bracing

Halo Traction

Growing Rods

MAGEC Rods

Vertebral Body Tethering

Spinal Fusion Surgery

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Locations For Idiopathic Scoliosis Care

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Growing Rods for your Growing Child

Innovative Treatments

Scoliosis Specific Exercises

Mehta Casting

Bracing

Halo Traction

Growing Rods

MAGEC System

Spinal Fusion Surgery

related from shriners children's

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Next Steps

Request an Appointment

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Log in to the Patient Portal

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Refer a Patient

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Our award-winning, internationally recognized physicians treat more than 10,000 children with scoliosis each year.

Observation

Scoliosis-specific Exercises

Mehta Casting

Bracing

Halo Traction

Growing Rods

MAGEC Rods

Vertebral Body Tethering

Spinal Fusion Surgery

Request an Appointment

Log in to the Patient Portal

Refer a Patient