What you need to know about pediatric scoliosis

Screenings for scoliosis are a standard practice in pediatricians’ offices and some schools, Cleveland Clinic reports.

Here are five things parents should know if they or their pediatrician notice signs of scoliosis, says orthopedic surgeon David Gurd, MD.:

1. Scoliosis is very common. It can develop in kids or adults, but the typical age of onset is between ages 10 and 15.

2. Treatment isn’t always necessary. Dr. Gurd says scoliosis is evaluated in terms of degrees of spine curvature:

A curve that’s 25 degrees or less doesn’t require treatment, just observation.

From 26 to 45 degrees, kids can be successfully treated with bracing (see below).

A curve that’s greater than 45 degrees typically requires surgery.

3. Braces are effective and more subtle than in the past. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found a high rate of treatment success with bracing, with 72 percent of at-risk children able to avoid surgery. “Today’s braces are padded and low-profile so you can hide it under your clothes,” says Dr. Gurd. 

4. Mild curves don’t cause long-term problems. 

5. When surgery is required, sooner is better than later. Dr. Gurd says severe curves will continue to get worse without surgery, which uses anchors and rods to correct the spine alignment.