Scoliosis

Synonyms

Spine Bending

Definition

Scoliosis is a fixed curvature of the spine. In scoliosis, the human spine is not only bent laterally, but also contains other components such as torsion and rotation.

General

The human spine is not a straight and rigid rod that holds a person upright, but a flexible and pliable structure made up of individual components that communicate with each other, the vertebral bodies. The spinal column has a predetermined structure with physiological curvatures to guarantee optimal mobility. It is bent in an S-shape to the front and back.

These curvatures are called lordosis (forward curvature: in the neck and lumbar region) and kyphosis (backward curvature: in the chest region). In addition to this normal and necessary curvature of the spine, scoliotic changes can also occur. These can be observed to a slight extent in the majority of the population.

Scoliosis refers to a fixed lateral curvature of the human spine. It is called fixed because it cannot be turned back into the actual starting position of the spine, as is the case with scoliotic malpositions (e.g. passive or active malpositions due to pain). Scoliosis, however, is not only the lateral curvature of the spinal column, but also includes the torsion (asymmetrical growth) of individual vertebral bodies and the rotation of several vertebral bodies relative to each other.

The causes of scoliosis

Scoliosis is usually caused by either primary or secondary asymmetrical changes in the shape of the spine. Primary causes include, for example, congenital malformations of the vertebral bodies, while secondary causes are in turn circumstances that cause the spine to bend (weaker muscles on one side of the spine than on the other side, for example). However, the vast majority (about 90%) of scolioses or their development cannot be explained (example: why is the musculature unevenly strong?)

and are therefore considered idiopathic in medical terminology. The spinal column is kept under strong elastic tension throughout life, but especially in the growth phase. If this tension is out of balance, a disproportion of forces develops and the spine deviates laterally.

Depending on the cause, a distinction is made between different types of scoliosis: Myopathic scoliosis Myopathic scoliosis is a curvature of the spine due to a muscle disease, such as muscular dystrophy. Neuropathic scoliosis Neuropathic scoliosis is caused by a malfunction of the nerves. The lateral curvature is caused by unilateral paralysis of the trunk muscles due to a nerve failure.

Osteopathic scoliosis Here, the disorder lies primarily in the vertebral body symmetry. Idiopathic scoliosis The cause of this form of scoliosis is unknown. Scoliosis can be acquired or congenital.

Other forms of scoliosis

  • Myopathic scoliosis Myopathic scoliosis is a curvature of the spine due to a muscle disease, such as muscular dystrophy.
  • Neuropathic scoliosis A neuropathic scoliosis is caused by a malfunction of the nerves. The lateral curvature is caused by unilateral paralysis of the trunk muscles due to a nerve failure.
  • Osteopathic scoliosis Here, the disorder lies primarily in the vertebral body symmetry.
  • Idiopathic scoliosis The cause of this form of scoliosis is unknown. Scoliosis can be acquired or congenital.
  • Other forms of scoliosis