What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is the sideways bending of the back or waist regions of the spine. Sometimes it is accompanied by an increase in the normally existing hump on the back or the dimple in the waist. The reason for the formation of scoliosis; It could be due to many different reasons. Congenital, spastic children may be due to idiopathic (unknown cause) infection or tumor. Familial predisposition is present in all idiopathic ones.
Why Does Scoliosis Occur?
Scoliosis can occur due to many different reasons. However, the scoliosis we encounter frequently in our daily lives are idiopathic scoliosis, which occur mostly at the age of 10 and the cause of which is not known yet, and congenital (congenital) scoliosis that occur due to factors in the mother's womb and present from birth. It is thought that the main factors in congenital scoliosis are infections during pregnancy, diabetes and some vitamin deficiencies.
Major Types Of Scoliosis
- Congenital; usually due to a developmental defect in the spine or fused ribs,
- It can occur as a result of paralysis of the muscles due to conditions such as polio (polio), cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy.
- Unknown (Idiopathic); It can occur for an unknown reason in a previously smooth spine.
Scoliosis Treatment
Effective in deciding on treatment; There are many factors such as the amount of curvature (degree), the type of scoliosis and the stage of bone growth. Since early initiation of treatment affects the results positively, early diagnosis is very important in the success of the treatment of scoliosis patients.
The diagnosis of scoliosis is made with an x-ray graphic showing the entire spine, and an MRI is required to investigate whether there is any other problem with it. It may be different for each patient in its treatment, but it may vary depending on the progression rate of scoliosis, the degree of curvature, and the presence of additional pathologies.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Surgery is the most appropriate treatment method for patients with a curvature of more than 20 degrees (40°). In the surgical treatment, the spine is straightened with the help of screws and rods placed on the back and/or waist. Today, developments in surgical techniques and auxiliary methods such as imaging of spinal cord functions (neuromonitorization) applied during surgery are very useful in reducing the problems that may occur in the patient during surgery and increase the success of the surgery. Our clinic has these infrastructures in modern spine surgery centers and scoliosis surgeries are successfully performed in our clinic.
Corset Treatment: It is done in children where the temperature is above 25 degrees and growth continues. The effect of the corset is not effective in curves above 40 degrees and in those who have completed their growth.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery is the most appropriate treatment method for patients with continued growth and curvature greater than 40 degrees. In these curvatures, surgical treatment is performed to prevent complications and for cosmetic results.
Congenital scoliosis treatment can be done at younger ages and degrees. In the surgical treatment, the spine is straightened with the help of screws and rods placed on the back and/or waist. Today, developments in surgical techniques and auxiliary methods such as imaging of spinal cord functions (neuromonitorization) applied during surgery are very useful in reducing the problems that may occur in the patient during surgery and increase the success of the surgery. Our clinic has these infrastructures in modern spine surgery centers and scoliosis surgeries are successfully performed in our clinic.