Definition and causes of scoliosis
Scoliosis is a permanent deviation of the spine, linked to a rotation of the vertebrae. It occurs mainly in childhood and adolescence but can also occur in adulthood. Scoliosis is sometimes the result of a disease or malformation.
WHAT IS SCOLIOSIS?
Scoliosis is a permanent deformation of the spine (or spine) in the three planes of space (face or frontal, profile or sagittal and transverse or horizontal). This deviation of the spine is related to a rotation of the vertebrae relative to each other. In the case of scoliosis, the spine is twisted and its natural curvatures are modified. This disease causes gibbosity (deformation of the upper back in the shape of a hump).
SCOLIOSIS OR «SCOLIOTIC ATTITUDE»?
Scoliosis is distinguished from scoliotic attitude. Scoliotic attitude is when the spine has a reducible deviation (the doctor can decrease it by a change of position, especially if the patient is lying down) because there is no rotation of the vertebrae. In case of scoliosis, the deviation is not reducible. The deformation of the scoliotic attitude is caused by a bad position that can have different origins: an unequal length of the lower limbs; an imbalance of the basin; an analgesic attitude (a position taken spontaneously by the body in which pain is least strongly felt). The scoliotic attitude is treated according to the cases: through rehabilitation; by wearing orthopedic soles (if the lower limbs are of different lengths); dealing with the cause of this bad position.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF SCOLIOSIS?
This condition can have various origins.
Scoliosis in children and adolescents: Idiopathic scoliosis
It appears and develops during childhood, gradually, during growth. In general, its evolution is slow before puberty, then it accelerates during this period. This is the most common form of illness at these times of life. It affects on average 0.5 to 2% of 8-15 year-olds, with girls being statistically eight times more affected than boys. With care, scoliosis stabilizes. However, it may still develop in adulthood.
Scoliosis known as "secondary"
It occurs following a neuromuscular (myopathy for example) or bone disease (affecting the vertebrae). In children, it is much rarer than the idiopathic form. It often concerns children with cerebral palsy suffering from sequelae after a difficult birth.
Scoliosis in adult: Idiopathic scoliosis
ASA is the idiopathic scoliosis that appeared in childhood, not stabilized in late adolescence and continues to progress in adulthood.
DDS is Scoliosis known as "secondary" It is due to neuromuscular disease or bone disease (for example: unequal length of the lower limbs, osteoporosis).
Scoliosis known as "de novo" It appears late; it is due to a degeneration of the intervertebral discs and vertebrae related to age. It is more and more common because of the lengthening of the service life.