What is idiopathic scoliosis? Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is a complex 3-dimensional condition of the spine and trunk. Although many consider scoliosis to be a single spinal curve, the 3-dimensionality means that not only does the spine bend laterally but also rotates/twists in the transverse plane and may be flattened when viewed from the side. Patients… Read More
Thoracolumbar scoliosis is a curvature of the spine at the junction of the mid back (lower thoracic) and low back (upper lumbar). Thoracolumbar scoliosis can be caused by a variety of reasons but as with all types of scoliosis it is usually idiopathic, about 80 – 90% of the time. According to one recent study… Read More
January 12, 2017
Scoliosis resolved! This is a direct quote from a radiology report from a local hospital regarding one of our patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). We are thrilled with this incredible result and to read this radiology report for a very hard-working thirteen-year-old. She has achieved a result spinal surgeons consider “impossible,” as in, “It’s “impossible to… Read More
The Cobb method of measuring scoliosis is the basis for diagnosis, prognosis and standard of care for treatment. Using the Cobb method, the Cobb angle (some refer to it as Cobb’s angle) is determined. This measurement is an important aspect of scoliosis to understand. Understanding Cobb’s method a little better may help you gain insight… Read More
When do doctors recommend an MRI for scoliosis? Typically MRIs are diagnosed for patients diagnosed in the juvenile phase (<ten-years-old) or for adolescents experiencing atypical characteristics of idiopathic scoliosis. More specifically, an MRI for scoliosis may be recommended when a patient has numbness, weakness, pain, or an asymmetric loss of reflexes. An MRI can help… Read More
Scoliosis Angle – What is the Difference Between the Cobb Angle and Scoliometer Measurement? Patients and parents often confuse the measurements that doctors use to evaluate scoliosis, specifically Cobb angle and Scoliometer. These scoliosis angle measurements are very different. Both are used by doctors to monitor scoliosis and to determine whether scoliosis is improving (yes, this is possible… Read More
We occasionally see patients that present with scoliosis and leg length discrepancy (LLD). In these cases, scoliosis can be either caused by or exacerbated by a leg length discrepancy. Leg length discrepancy can be either a true discrepancy or as a result of pelvic obliquity. How do you tell if you have a true leg… Read More
How does a child diagnosed with scoliosis during a school screening end up with a 71º scoliosis by the end of the school year? That was the predicament that one of our NY patients, and her parents, found themselves in. The answer, unfortunately, is a scoliosis screening where the adults doing the screening didn’t convey… Read More
Updated: March 11, 2019. Idiopathic scoliosis can appear without warning. Knowing the signs of scoliosis may help you detect an emerging curve so you can take action. Scoliosis is most often diagnosed during adolescence but if you have concerns, for example, due to family history, you may want to begin checking your children prior to… Read More
What is progressive scoliosis? Progressive scoliosis is a spinal curvature that increases more than 5º in Cobb angle within 6 months as measured on the AP/PA view of a full spine x-ray. There is no foolproof way for physicians to determine whether scoliosis will get worse after a diagnosis, predict whose scoliosis will be progressive and… Read More
