The backbone (spine), which keeps our body upright, sometimes shows curvatures. Curvatures that can start at a very young age can only be caught by careful mothers. It is not possible to notice incipient and slight curvatures while children are in dresses. But mothers can also see children without clothes. It is up to adults such as parents and teachers to detect the curvature of the spine, which is mostly observed in girls, early. The spine consists of many bones in a cylindrical structure combined with cartilage structures called discs. 7 neck, 12 back, 5 lumbar vertebrae combine with the pyramid-like part called the coccyx to form the backbone (spine), which is the main part of the skeleton. The spine is a support that holds the body upright, a structure that protects the spinal cord.
The neck and lumbar region of the spine are highly mobile. The spine, which is formed by the perfect union of the vertebral bones with joints and ligaments, shows certain normal curvatures from the side, when viewed from the side, it is recessed in the neck and waist region and outwardly protruding on the back. But the spine is straight when viewed from the front. When viewed from the front, it is a disorder that a part of the spine curves to the right or left and shows rotation (rotation). This disorder is called Scoliosis. However, as mothers are more sensitive to this issue, this ailment can be caught earlier.
In most cases, the cause is unknown. Curvatures without a cause are called idiopathic scoliosis. It has genetic traits. It is more common in girls. In severe cases, the curves progress very rapidly in adolescence. Studies report that 5% of children have scoliosis. Curvatures can be of various types. There may be curvatures to the right or left in the back, to the right or to the left in the waist, or mutual curvatures of both the back and the waist. Spinal curvatures can also occur after childhood. In adults, scoliosis may develop later in cases such as imbalance of the back muscles, excessive obesity, osteoporosis (bone loss). Most of the time, unevenly working muscles cause an imbalance in the back muscles and curvature develops in the spine. This situation can be corrected if it can be noticed without causing permanent damage to the spine.
Signs and Symptoms
A slight curvature does not prevent any physical activity. Most of the time it goes unnoticed without attention. Sometimes, curvature of the spine is seen incidentally on X-ray. Severe curvatures can be noticed even while wearing a dress. The gradual curvature of the spine in poor scoliosis narrows the thoracic cavity in advanced ages. This narrowing leads to heart and lung problems in the future.
Diagnosis
The straightness of the spine can be checked with a simple plumb line. The plumb line, which is placed in the middle of the neck, should pass straight through the spine and land on the ground in the middle of the two feet. In addition, both shoulders should be at the same level, there should be no asymmetry in the back or difference on one side when leaning forward. If you have the slightest doubt, have a specialist doctor examination and radiological examinations for the correct diagnosis. In the necessary spine films, rotations in the spine are determined and angular measurements of scoliosis are made. The patient with scoliosis should be checked at regular intervals because the curvatures can progress rapidly.
Treatment
Mild cases are kept under observation only, adult or child followed over time. In the meantime, regular exercises should be done to prevent imbalance, hardening and shortening of the muscles. In bad cases, the curvature and rotation of the spine increase and the thoracic cavity becomes very narrow over time. The air entering the lungs decreases. As the age progresses and the child grows, problems in the lungs may occur frequently, and in such cases, corset application and surgery may be required.
