In most people (80-85 percent of cases), the cause of
scoliosis is unknown. This type of scoliosis is called idiopathic scoliosis.
Before concluding that a person has idiopathic scoliosis, the doctor will look for other possible causes of scoliosis. The causes of scoliosis are generally classified into one of two types: nonstructural (functional) scoliosis and structural scoliosis.
Different causes of scoliosis are common within each of these different types of scoliosis.
What Causes Scoliosis? -- Nonstructural (Functional) Scoliosis
Nonstructural scoliosis is when the spine is structurally normal, but appears curved because of another cause.
This type of scoliosis is most often caused by an underlying condition, such as:
- A difference in leg length
- Muscle spasms
- Inflammatory conditions such as appendicitis.
Doctors treat nonstructural scoliosis by correcting the underlying problem.
(Click Scoliosis Treatments for more information about treatment options for scoliosis.)
What Causes Scoliosis? -- Structural Scoliosis
In structural scoliosis, the spine has a fixed curve that is structurally abnormal.
The causes for this type of scoliosis include:
- Metabolic diseases
- Neuromuscular diseases (such as cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, or muscular dystrophy)
- Birth defects (such as hemivertebra)
- Connective tissue disorders
- Injury
- Certain infections
- Tumors (such as those caused by neurofibromatosis)
- Rheumatic diseases
- Unknown factors (idiopathic scoliosis).
Structural scoliosis can be one part of a syndrome or disease. For example, this is sometimes seen in Marfan's syndrome, which is an inherited connective tissue disorder. In other cases, structural scoliosis occurs by itself.
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