Is Scoliosis Fatal?
Hearing that you or your child has any type of diagnosis can be scary. If you have never heard of scoliosis, it may be frightening to hear this diagnosis. You probably have a lot of questions about what scoliosis is, if it is painful and how it will affect your child's life.
Other People Are Reading
-
Is Scoliosis Fatal?
-
In almost all cases, scoliosis is not fatal. Even in severe cases, the condition can be corrected with surgery. Cases of scoliosis being fatal only occur in people who have extremely severe cases of the condition and do not receive medical attention.
What is Scoliosis?
-
Scoliosis is curve in the spine. A normal spine is straight, but in a person with scoliosis the spine makes a C- or S-shaped curve.
-
Is Scoliosis Painful?
-
Most people with scoliosis do not report any more back pain than a person without the disorder. Extreme spinal curves can cause vital organs to be crushed, which is painful and life-threatening.
Who Is Affected By Scoliosis?
-
Scoliosis is most common among females with very few males having the condition. In addition, scoliosis is genetic and passed down through families. Because the condition is often painless and causes very little damage, it is often undiagnosed.
What Non-Surgical Treatments are Available for Scoliosis?
-
Scoliosis can be helped by wearing a back brace. This is most effect in people who have a spinal curve between 25 and 30 degrees. A brace will not straighten the spine but it will prevent the condition from worsening.
What Surgical Treamtents for Scoliosis Exist?
-
Because any surgery is risky and can be fatal, surgery for scoliosis is saved for times when a person's spinal curve is causing extreme pain or damage to the internal organs. Usually surgery is not attempted to straighten the spine until the curve is more than 45 degrees.
-
