Scoliosis Treatments

Doctors will suggest the best scoliosis treatment for each patient based on the patient's age, how much he or she is likely to grow, and the type of scoliosis that the patient has. Scoliosis treatments include observation, bracing, and surgery.

 

Scoliosis Treatments: An Overview

Many children who are sent to the doctor by a school scoliosis screening program have very mild spinal curves that do not need scoliosis treatment. However, when a child does need scoliosis treatment, the doctor may send the child to an orthopedic spine specialist.
 
Doctors will suggest the best scoliosis treatments for each patient based on:
 
  • The patient's age
  • How much more he or she is likely to grow
  • The type of scoliosis
  • The degree and pattern of the curve.
 
Doctors may recommend different scoliosis treatments, such as:
 
  • Observation
  • Bracing
  • Surgery.
 

Scoliosis Treatments: Observation

Doctors will use observation when the patient is still growing (is skeletally immature) and has an idiopathic curve of less than 25 degrees. Observation consists of re-examinations every four to six months.
 
Observation is recommended for very mild scoliosis because curves under 20 degrees will sometimes improve on its own. Approximately one in five cases of observation treatment will not improve on its own, and only 3 in 1,000 will worsen enough to need scoliosis treatment.
  

Scoliosis Treatments: Bracing

Doctors may advise bracing in order to stop a curve from getting worse. Bracing may be used when:
 
  • The person is still growing and has a curve of more than 25 to 30 degrees
  • The person is still growing and has a curve between 20 and 29 degrees that is getting worse
  • The person has at least two years of growth remaining and has a curve that is between 20 and 29 degrees.
 
However, females who have started their monthly period should not use bracing.
 
When a child is near the end of growth, the use of bracing will depend on how the curve affects the child's appearance, the size of the curve, and whether the curve is getting worse.
(Scoliosis Treatments Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD