Natural curves in your spine can be found in the cervical (neck), thoracic (upper and mid-back), and lumbar (low-back) regions. These curves have a purpose in that they act as natural shock absorbers when you move.
Scoliosis causes your spine to curve side to side, forming an “S” or “C” shape. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine on one side. It most commonly affects the thoracic spine, which is the ribbed portion of the spine, in children. However, in many cases, it also includes the lumbar or unribbed part of the spine, which is the lower portion of the spine and provides the majority of the patients’ flexibility and movement.
Thoracolumbar scoliosis, also known as thoracolumbar spine scoliosis, is a sideways curve that occurs at the junction of the spine’s middle (lower thoracic) and lower (upper lumbar) regions. Let’s look at what’s happening in your body if you have thoracolumbar scoliosis.
Scoliosis Basics
According to estimates, scoliosis affects between six and nine million people in the United States. It can occur at any age, but it is most commonly diagnosed in childhood, particularly between the ages of 10 and 15.
Scoliosis is diagnosed when the sideways curvature of the spine exceeds 10 degrees (everyone has some small degree of curvature). Smaller curvatures rarely cause problems and do not necessitate intervention. Significant scoliosis curves can range from 25 to 30 degrees, with severe cases reaching 45 to 50 degrees. Severe scoliosis can cause pain or breathing difficulties that must be treated.
According to a recent study, this type of curvature affects roughly half of all adolescents with scoliosis.
Symptoms of Thoracolumbar Scoliosis
The majority of people with any kind of scoliosis have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they may include backache or low back pain that travels down the legs, difficulty breathing or sitting shoulder pain, and weakness or fatigue in the spine after long periods of sitting or standing.
Even if you are not in pain, you may notice visible changes in your body as a result of thoracolumbar scoliosis. Uneven shoulders, a head that is not centered above the pelvis, an uneven rib cage, an uneven waist, a body that leans to one side, and one shoulder blade that is more visible than the other are examples.
Scoliosis is diagnosed through a physical examination, X-ray, spinal radiograph, computerized tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Even if there are no symptoms at first, scoliosis can cause problems in the long run.
In adult patients, arthritis and degenerative disc disease, or wear and tear of the discs, can cause back pain and sciatica, shooting pain in the legs, as well as spinal stenosis or narrowing of the spinal canal.
Scoliosis is diagnosed through a physical examination, X-ray, spinal radiograph, computerized tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Even if there are no symptoms at first, scoliosis can cause problems in the long run.
In adult patients, arthritis and degenerative disc disease, or wear and tear of the discs, can cause back pain and sciatica, shooting pain in the legs, as well as spinal stenosis or narrowing of the spinal canal.
Causes of Thoracolumbar Scoliosis
Idiopathic, congenital, and neuromuscular scoliosis are thoracolumbar scoliosis’s three most common causes. Idiopathy is the most common cause, accounting for roughly 80% of all cases. Idiopathic scoliosis refers to a condition in which the underlying cause is unknown.
When a baby’s ribs or spine do not form properly in the womb, they develop congenital scoliosis. Congenital scoliosis causes spinal curvature at birth. Neuromuscular scoliosis is a spine curvature caused by other neurological or muscular diseases.
Treatment of Thoracolumbar Scoliosis
Many factors influence how your thoracolumbar scoliosis is treated, including your age, the severity of the spinal curve, the location of the curve, and the likelihood of curve progression. Careful monitoring, wearing a brace, or scoliosis surgery are all options for treatment.
Surgery is sometimes recommended for curves greater than 40 to 45 degrees. Spinal fusion is the most common surgery. Fusion is the process of joining two or more vertebrae together with a bone graft to form a single unit. While the bone fusion takes effect, rods are placed in the back to help keep the spine straight and supported. However, the effectiveness of this treatment is debatable.
