Congenital Scoliosis
Congenital scoliosis is a spinal curvature that occurs because of abnormal development of the spine during gestation. Congenital spinal abnormalities have a wide range of clinical impacts and can result in no curvatures to severe curvatures that threaten normal lung development during early childhood. The spine develops during the same time as other vital organs, such as the heart and kidneys, and therefore we often order additional tests such as echocardiograms, renal ultrasounds and spinal MRIs when a diagnose of congenital scoliosis is made.
Treatment
Observation
A significant percentage of children with congenital spinal changes will only need continued evaluation. As with other forms of scoliosis, these curvatures tend to increase during periods of rapid growth. Observation relies on serial x-rays. We have low dose full spine x-rays which help drastically limit the cumulative radiation exposure over the course of the Childs lifetime.
Growing Instrumentation
Young patients, who have large congenital curves, sometimes require early intervention in order to improve the curve size, prevent it from getting worse, and allow for continued spinal growth to optimize lung development. Magnetically controlled growing rods allow these rods to be lengthened in the clinic with a magnet and avoids repeat surgeries.
Surgery
Once curves increase to over 50 degrees, they continue to increase over time, even after the child is done growing. Larger curves can be associated with long term health concerns, such as increasing deformity, increased rates of back pain and restrictive lung disease. For these reasons surgery is often recommended to improve the curve and prevent it from getting worse.
