Scoliosis is a descriptive term for a condition in which there is a lateral curvature of the spine. Although all spines exhibit curves the occurrence of curvatures in the neck, lower trunk and upper trunk is normal, the occurrence of lateral curves on the spinal column is abnormal. Scoliosis has many causes, some of which are known while others are still unknown.
Known Causes
There are a number of known causes of scoliosis. To begin with, the condition may be hereditary or acquired; or it may arise due to a disease or as a consequence of injury. Secondly, the condition may arise due to changes in the bony structure such as the bending of a vertebral body. Closely associated with this is a condition in which there are neuromuscular problems, which directly affect the musculature of the trunk, such as poliomyelitis, cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Thirdly, scoliosis may arise due to birth defects such
as hemivertebra, a condition in which one side of the vertebra fails to develop. In other instances, birth deformities lead to multiple spinal aberrations. The fourth known cause of scoliosis is the occurrence of tumors in the body. Such tumors include those caused by neurofibromatosis. Other known causes include metabolic and rheumatic diseases and certain infections.
Unknown Causes
The unknown causes of scoliosis are medically known as idiopathic causes. Most cases of scoliosis (over 80 per cent) arise due to unknown causes. As an example, muscle imbalance has been closely linked to cases of poliomyelitis and hence scoliosis due to its effect on the spine. However, since muscle imbalance also occurs in “normal” individuals, it is difficult to comprehend how it causes scoliosis. Idiopathic scoliosis causes the lateral curvature of the spine whose cause is unknown. It can begin from any three stages in life. One rare condition, known as infantile idiopathic scoliosis, is that in which an infantile curvature develops and improves on its own without treatment. It is not known why this happens. Another kind of scoliosis strikes at the ages of between four and ten and is referred to as early onset idiopathic scoliosis or juvenile scoliosis. Although the condition has been closely been related to birth defects, its clear cause is unknown since it increases rapidly as the child approaches adolescence. Finally, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis occurs in adolescents between the ages of ten to thirteen, mostly in girls. Regrettably, the cause of this is also unknown.