Name: Terron Hill
GP Adviser: Leggett
Date: Feb. 25, 2011
Page 1
The History and Effects of Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a disease that causes the growth of the spine to curve in an S shape
and sometimes even rotate. The dangers of Scoliosis include shortness of breathing and
deformation of back muscle and can be helped by a brace or surgery.
Knowing the effects of Scoliosis, most people are curious about how many people
it affects in the world. Some research claims that about three people out of every hundred
have some form of Scoliosis.
Scoliosis can do other harmful things to the body other than curve the spine. As a
result to the curved spine, in more serious cases, it causes cardiopulmonary effects.
Through these effects the scoliosis impinges the space that houses the heart and lungs,
this can cause shortness of breath or heart problems.
It also affects other structures such as the ribs, hips, and muscle causing them to
deform. More specifically, one shoulder may appear higher than the other, one hip may
appear higher than the other, the victims head is not centered over his or her body, one
shoulder blade may stick out more than the other, the ribs are higher on one side when the
child bends forward from the waist, and the waistline may be flat on one side.
Treatments for scoliosis include bracing and surgery. Bracing is used for any
unserious case of scoliosis to try and prevent the curve from getting worse and even
correct deformity. Bracing is more effective for a rapidly growing child that has scoliosis.
For surgery, it is used for any case with a curve at forty-five degrees or more. It is the
best option for severe curves. Depending on the spot of the curve and degree the surgeon
will fuse the vertebrae in a closer to normal anatomic position.
Name: Terron Hill
GP Adviser: Leggett
Date: Feb. 25, 2011
Page 2
There are some good cases of surgery and bad cases of surgery. When deciding
on a scoliosis treatment plan, it is important to consider many factors, including the risks
versus benefits of each treatment option. Scoliosis surgery has many possible
complications which may include severe blood loss, paraplegia, and even death. Many
orthopedists and scoliosis researchers dismiss the possible role of exercise in treating
spinal curvature because they say surgery and bracing are the only proven options.
According to a paper by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force on scoliosis
screening, "Few controlled studies have evaluated surgery in terms of clinical outcomes,
such as back pain and functional status. Although spinal curves and axial rotations are
influenced by surgery, they do not correlate well with the incidence of back pain or other
symptoms."
As such, I think it is illogical to dismiss the role of one treatment option, such as
exercise, because of a lack of controlled studies in favor of a different treatment option,
such as surgery, when the second treatment option also lacks a significant number of
controlled studies proving its efficacy.
There are a number of published medical papers that have documented
improvement in spinal curves through exercise and other alternative treatments. Plus, the
health risks associated with a doctor approved, gentle yoga or Pilates exercise program
for scoliosis are relatively low compared to the health risks of having major surgery.
Name: Terron Hill
GP Adviser: Leggett
Date: Feb. 25, 2011
Page 3
Yoga and Pilates are generally low cost, gentle forms of exercise with many
health benefits regardless of any possible impact on scoliosis, so it seems illogical to not
at least consider them as a possible treatment option.
Many orthopedists' web sites on spinal curvature surgery tend to emphasize only
the benefits of the operation, since orthopedic surgeons, of course, have a strong
monetary incentive to perform as many surgeries as possible. However, with the advent
of the Internet, more information on the true risk factors associated with these types of
surgeries are now available to patients, regardless of how much these risks are glossed
over or minimized in many orthopedists' web sites.
More specific failures from the surgery include, allergic reactions to anesthesia,
bleeding (patients are encouraged to donate blood before the operation for use in
possible transfusions), postoperative pain, nerve damage (neurologic injury can occur
in one percent of patients, which can lead to motor weakness and, in very rare cases,
paralysis), pseudoarthrosis, disc degeneration, low back pain, loss of trunk mobility,
balance, and muscle strength, leg and back pain, dislodging of hooks, and fracture of
a fused vertebra.
Doctors would classify the different curves by these forms and symptoms.
Nonstructural, which is when the spine is structurally normal and the curve is not a
lifetime thing. Then there is Structural, when the spine has a fixed curve and the cause
could be the disease form, injury, infection, or birth defect.
Name: Terron Hill
GP Adviser: Leggett
Date: Feb. 25, 2011
Page 4
Scoliosis can be diagnosed by medical and family history, a physical exam, and
scoliosis testing. Another way to diagnose if someone has it is through x-rays, the x-ray
allows the doctor to measure the curve in degrees and see where it is pushed in the body
and the shape.
Having scoliosis is one thing but spotting it is another. In children and teens,
scoliosis generally does not cause symptoms and is not obvious until the curve of the
spine becomes severe. It may first become noticeable to a parent who observes that the
victims’ clothes do not fit right or that hems hang sort of unevenly.
The person’s spine may look crooked or the ribs may stick out. Most of the time
scoliosis does not cause pain in children or teens. Pain in a teen that has scoliosis may
indicate another problem, such as a bone or spinal tumor. If a victim has pain associated
with scoliosis, it is very important that he or she see a doctor to find out what is causing
the pain.
Adults who have scoliosis may or may not have back pain. In most cases where
back pain is present, it is hard to know whether scoliosis is the cause. If scoliosis in an
adult gets worse and becomes severe, it can cause back pain and difficulty breathing.
A little deeper into scoliosis, the term scoliosis comes from the Greek word
meaning crooked. The disease affects the spine, causing it to curve into an S-shape. The
spine may also, in some cases, be rotated. The disease has existed for a good while, and
with each passing century, human understanding and treatment for the condition has
improved. There where theories and attempted treatments for scoliosis also.
Name: Terron Hill
GP Adviser: Leggett
Date: Feb. 25, 2011
Page 5
Ancient Indian References, The Hindu epic Srimad Bhagwat Mahapuranam,
which was likely, composed between 3500 to 1800 B.C., references a person who may
have had scoliosis. Kubja, a follower of the god Krishna, was a hunchback with a spine
that was deformed. The story goes on to explain how Krishna laid his hands upon Kubja,
pressing her feet down and gently drawing her chin up, and was able to straighten her
spine. And so this early reference to the disease also reveals an early treatment.
Ancient Greek Medicine, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates coined the
term scoliosis. He did pioneering work in treating the disease, including methods like
application of axial traction and trans-abdominal correction. His work laid the
groundwork for the foundation of Western medicine.
Ambroise Pare, in 1510, French surgeon Ambroise Pare advocated the use of
extension and pressure against the body to treat scoliosis. He suggested that patients be
treated using a specially designed padded iron corset. He advocated the use of great force
and levers to contort the body. However, by modern standards, he was lax in his
understanding of how important after-treatment was to the continued health of the
patient.
Lewis A. Sayre, in 1878, Lewis A. Sayre, an orthopedic surgeon, wrote a book
called "Spinal Disease and Spinal Curvature." In his book, he argued that the superior
treatment method for the disease would be to have patients suspend themselves in a
jacket made out of plaster of Paris, an idea he borrowed from Dr. Benjamin Lee of
Philadelphia and Prof. Mitchell of Philadelphia. The jackets would be worn daily during
a series of exercises.
Name: Terron Hill
GP Adviser: Leggett
Date: Feb. 25, 2011
Page 6
Scoliosis is a very interesting to research. I believe one day there will be better
solutions to treat it as technology gets better. Hopefully this paper taught you some things
you may have not known about scoliosis if you haven’t been informed about it.
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