1. Scoliosis Evan Downing

2. What is it It’s a sideways curve of the spine that occurs usually during the growth spurt right before puberty Sometimes can make a spine into a “C” or “S” shape There are several types of scoliosis based on the cause and age when the curve develops; the majority of patients have no known cause.

3. Cause Can be caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy Cause of most scoliosis is unknown Usually not passed down from generation Develops as children grow But some risk factors include age, female sex, and family history

4. Facts Occurs in about 2% of the population Girls are most likely to be affected Not common in a particular ethnicity Usually affects kids age 10-16

5. Symptoms Noticeable curve of spine One shoulder or hip appears higher than other Head is not centered over body Shoulder blade may stick out Ribs are higher on one side when bent over Waistline flat on one side

6. Testing and Screening Most scoliosis curves are detected on school screening exams Diagnosis is done by being physically tested or by imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs To determine the type of scoliosis the patient has they are bone examined and X-rayed

7. Treatment No cure, but can be treated by observation, braces, or surgery Braces (for spinal curve of 25- 40 degrees) halts the progression of the curve, temporarily corrects the spine Surgery (for spinal curve of 40- 50 degrees) makes sure the curve does not get worse Scoliosis is not usually life threatening

8. Other Facts Scoliosis is not caused by activity such as exercise, sports, or carrying heavy object It does not typically cause back pain There are different types of scoliosis idiopathic scoliosis being the most common

9. Images

10. Citations http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/arthrit is-scoliosis http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/arthrit is-scoliosis http://www.spine- health.com/conditions/scoliosis/scoliosis-what-you- need-know http://www.spine- health.com/conditions/scoliosis/scoliosis-what-you- need-know