Informasi Scoliosis

Study Notes

Scoliosis Overview

Scoliosis refers to a sideways curvature of the spine, which can have various causes and effects on individuals. Although most cases are mild, the condition can lead to complications if left untreated. In this article, we will discuss the causes, symptoms, treatment options, and diagnosis methods for scoliosis.

Causes of Scoliosis

Scoliosis has several known causes separated into primary and secondary types:

Primary Causes

Primary or idiopathic scoliosis does not have a clear cause, but research suggests that genetics play a role. It typically develops during growth spurts around puberty.

Secondary Causes

Secondary scoliosis occurs due to underlying conditions or factors, such as:

Neuromuscular disorders like cerebral palsy, polio, muscular dystrophy, and spinal muscular atrophy.
Birth defects affecting the development of vertebrae.
Previous surgery on the chest wall as a baby.
Infections or tumors in the spine.
Spinal cord irregularities.
Connective tissue disorders like Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
Muscle spasms or inflammations like appendicitis.

Congenital scoliosis is another secondary cause that occurs when the spine develops improperly before birth due to vertebral malformations or other developmental issues.

Symptoms of Scoliosis

Scoliosis symptoms include uneven shoulders, one shoulder blade appearing more prominent than the other, uneven waist, one hip higher than the other, and rib cage jutting out farther on one side. In severe cases or when it progresses over time, scoliosis can cause:

Breathing difficulties due to reduced space in the chest cavity.
Chronic pain in the back and legs.

Infants with untreated scoliosis may experience a bulge on one side of their chest, consistently lying with their body curved to one side, and problems with heart and lung function in severe cases.

Treatment Options for Scoliosis

Treatment for scoliosis depends on the severity of the curvature. For mild cases, no treatment is necessary, and close monitoring with X-rays is sufficient. If the curve worsens, options include:

Braces worn 24 hours a day for children who are still growing.
Spinal fusion surgery involving hardware like rods, hooks, screws, or wires to hold bones in place until they fuse.

Exercise programs aimed at realigning the spine, rib cage, shoulders, and pelvis have been proposed to help manage scoliosis.

Diagnosis of Scoliosis

Diagnosing scoliosis involves inspecting physical signs like asymmetry of the spine or back, then confirming the diagnosis with an X-ray. An inclinometer or scoliometer tool is used during the physical examination to measure spinal rotation.

Description

Pelajari tentang definisi, penyebab, gejala, opsi pengobatan, dan metode diagnosis scoliosis dalam artikel ini. Mulai dari skoliosis primer, skoliosis sekunder, hingga gejala yang harus diwaspadai dan pilihan pengobatan yang tersedia.