Spinal Health and Curvature of the Spine (Scoliosis) Treatment in Children

How Are Spinal Diseases Diagnosed in Children?

The earlier the diagnosis of spinal diseases in children is made, the more effective the treatment will be. For this reason, a great deal of work falls on the family in monitoring the correct progress of the physical development of children in the developmental age. It is possible to detect many spinal diseases when viewed from the outside. Mild spinal injuries may not be noticed from the outside and may only cause pain symptoms. When a spinal disease is suspected or when there is a complaint of pain in the lower back and neck regions, it is necessary to go to the doctor without wasting time, not thinking that it will pass over time. Although the doctor has largely detected the disease as a result of the physical examination, he uses various imaging methods to discover the condition of the spine and the extent of the discomfort. X-ray and MRI are the most commonly used imaging methods in the diagnosis of spinal diseases, while various neurological tests can also be applied.

What are Spinal Diseases in Children?

While most of the spinal diseases seen in children occur as a result of a congenital structural defect, in some cases, they occur as a result of the effect of environmental factors over time. Common spinal diseases in children can be summarized as follows:

Scoliosis: The spine, which should look like a straight line when viewed from the front, is seen to bend sideways in scoliosis. It is usually diagnosed by beginning to show symptoms in childhood or adolescence. Scoliosis, which occurs as a result of a congenital structural defect, may not show any symptoms with a mild course. However, as the age progresses, the condition of scoliosis may worsen and cause health problems. For this reason, it is necessary to take necessary precautions after scoliosis is diagnosed.
Kyphosis: Kyphosis occurs when the physiological curvature in the dorsal region of the spine is more curved than it should be (between 20 and 50 degrees). It can be said that kyphosis is actually a kind of rib condition that develops as a result of a structural disorder in children. Conditions that cause kyphosis include certain bone diseases, spinal fractures, spinal infection, damage to muscles and nerves as a result of injury to the vertebrae, and Scheuermann’s disease (a disease in which different growth rates occur in different parts of the spine).
Lordosis: Lordosis occurs when the physiological curvature of the spine in the lumbar region curves inward more than it should. Problems in muscle and connective tissue, loss of strength, especially looseness in the abdominal muscles, excess weight, may cause increased lordosis. In the presence of lordosis, the increase in lordosis can be prevented by applying the right treatment methods and doing the necessary exercises.
Straightening of the Spine: While there are 3 physiological curvatures in the spine under normal conditions, these curvatures disappear in the straightening of the spine and the spine becomes straight. Flattening can be seen in the neck or waist area. Neck flattening can occur after a long standing in the same position, stretching the neck muscles, neck hernia or damage as a result of a blow. Low back flattening can be seen as a result of posture disorders, muscle tensions and spasms caused by sitting in the wrong position for a long time.
Spine Fractures: Spine stress fractures, known as spondylolysis, usually occur as a result of excessive load on the vertebrae in the lower back region. Stress fractures, which occur in highly mobile areas such as the waist, cause pain in childhood and adolescence, but may not show any symptoms in later ages.
Spinal Slippage: Spine slippage, also called spondylolisthesis, is the forward slippage of one of the vertebrae that make up the spine. Spondylolisthesis can occur as a result of spinal fractures, structural disorders in the joints or trauma. Depending on the cause of the spinal slip, there are types called isthmic spondylolisthesis, degenerative spondylolisthesis, dysplastic spondylolisthesis and traumatic spondylolisthesis.

What is Scoliosis and How Is It Treated?

Scoliosis is one of the most common spinal disorders in children. In scoliosis, when viewed from the front and back, the spine, which should be seen as a straight line, is curved to the sides. It can occur as a result of scoliosis, a congenital structural defect, diseases such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, injury or infection in the spine. If mild scoliosis does not cause symptoms, follow-up is preferred, not treatment. During the child’s development process, it is monitored whether the scoliosis worsens with regular controls. If the scoliosis is progressing, the curvature is tried to be controlled with the use of a corset. In the case of severely advanced scoliosis, surgical intervention may be necessary.