The pediatrician has detected a slight curve in your child's spine. They have recommended you to a scoliosis specialist to discuss the various ways to treat this condition. The time for treatment is early in your child's development, when their bones are rapidly growing. This gives the spine a chance to straighten out as it grows. Here are the current options for treating a curved spine so it won't become more deformed and cause your child health problems later in life.

Treatment Choices

Treatments are chosen based on the severity of the curve. If the curve is minor and is not causing your child any health problems, non-invasive treatments can be used to straighten the spine as your child grows. If the curve is severe, it can interfere with the growth of the internal organs, especially the lungs. These spinal curvatures require surgery to correct the curve and prevent it from causing other developmental problems.

Non-Invasive Treatments

Underarm brace - Also called a clamshell brace, this device comes in two halves which are secured around the child's body. It is created from a mold of the body to get the best fit. It is adjusted to hold the spine straighter while the child develops and is most effective on curves in the middle and lower portions of the spine. As your child develops, new molds and braces will have to be made periodically to accommodate the growth.

Full-torso brace - Also referred to as the Milwaukee brace, this device relies on a molded portion that rests on your child's hips, and a metal brace that extends upward in front and back to support the neck and head. This brace is used to treat curves in the upper back and neck. The molded part on the hips will need to be replaced periodically and the braces in front and back less often.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery is done to prevent a severe curvature from getting worse and to straighten out the spine as much as possible to give the internal organs room to develop. The surgery is done in three parts:

• Bone material is removed from the wedge-shaped vertebrae so the spine can be straightened.
• Bone fragments are packed in between specific vertebra to fuse them together, preventing further curvature.
• The orthopaedic surgeon attaches metal rods to one or both sides of the vertebrae to stabilize them while the bones fuse solid.

Your child may also wear a brace or body cast after the surgery to give additional support to the spine as it heals.