Scoliosis in 8 year old?

[Anonymous]

My middle child is 8. She is of average height (sligtely below average). She is thin, but sturdy and muscular. Most athletic girl in her class, and very good athlete. At her 7th birthday appointment, the pediatrician noted that one side of her back is higher than the other when she bends ti touch her feet. When looking at her straight, her spine, hips and shoulders are very straight. We took her to an orthopedic right away. He looked at her and said she is perfect and it’s just her position/the way she bends. We seemed a second opinion at Children and the orthopedist thought she loooked straight, but ordered an x ray. Though the X ray it seems she does have about a 6-10% bend in her spine. We repeated the x ray 9 months later and while in the x ray the spine looks straighter, the % was 8-10% (different doctor).

My husband has scoliosis (really bad), but it’s only a problem aesthetically. He is tall and thin (very different built from my DD that took after me).

Does anyone have any experience with something similar? Is it possible that it resolves on its own?

[Anonymous]

I would go to children’s and use the EOS machine for images. (Can google it- it is a low-radiation and clearer image technology). They have it downtown and in Fairfax through the National Scoliosis Center (a bracing practice). Bracing or not— if the curve gets to “surgical” range, consider “VBT” or, separately, “ASC” surgery rather than fusion. There is a FB group for both, which was tremendously helpful for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would go to children’s and use the EOS machine for images. (Can google it- it is a low-radiation and clearer image technology). They have it downtown and in Fairfax through the National Scoliosis Center (a bracing practice). Bracing or not— if the curve gets to “surgical” range, consider “VBT” or, separately, “ASC” surgery rather than fusion. There is a FB group for both, which was tremendously helpful for us.

Thank you! That is the machine they used both times. We are getting another image in 6 months to see how the spine looks.
Could you tell me a little more about your experience? How old was your child? What was his/her %? Did you do surgery?

Thank you

[Anonymous]

My DS’s curve was a “double” curve (S not C). Ironically it was not visibly detected (it evened itself out in a way) until very late in the game. We braced just to stablize/hold it and give us time to research. MANY visits and consultations and NO ONE mentioned VBT or ASC. It is not done locally.

Scoliosis often gets much worse during growth spurts. If ultimately it stays under 30 degrees, then people leave it. Bracing can help. NSC has a good brace, but there is another worn only at night (I forget the name of it. Growth occurs mainly at night. I think one would be committing to OOT visits for that brace style). Locally, go only to NSC if you need a brace.

The best VBT surgeons are at Shriners in Philly, Dr Rodriguez in NYC and Braun in Boston. Remaining growth is necessary in order to do VBT. If the spinal disks are actually twisted and/or if little growth is left and/or the curve gets very bad at an early age, then definitely look into ASC. The best practice for this is a group that left Shriners and started their own practice in NJ.

I hope your DC’s curve stays low and this isn’t necessary. I have one with a low curve (no bracing etc) and then the other, that led to all this.

[Anonymous]

I meant vertebrae above, not disks. Definitely join those FB groups for great info and sharing with other parents.

[Anonymous]

NP At your daughter's young age, you'll want to focus on ways to limit the progression of her curve. Best thing is to work on core body strength, which she may already be doing given her sports. You may want to schedule a PT appt to give her specific exercises.

The key is to do symmetric exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, etc. so that muscle development is even on both sides. If she can do sports that involve the upper body bilaterally, that would be good. Javelin throwers have a higher incidence of scoliosis since they develop one side of their body more than the other. Try to avoid putting weight on her shoulders that would put downward pressure on her spine (e.g. no squats). Try to avoid heavy backpacks but if she has to carry them, stress the importance of using both backpack straps to keep the weight symmetrically balanced on her shoulders/back. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! She does a lot of swimming and tennis and soccer (not travel). She also does push ups and pull ups (I have never been able to do even one pull up and she does 5 easily). She is always jumping, climbing, running (fastest runner in her soccer team).

[Anonymous]

The PP re surgeries here — agree that golf, tennis, javelin (anything that twists the spine) and also direct weight lifting is not great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! She does a lot of swimming and tennis and soccer (not travel). She also does push ups and pull ups (I have never been able to do even one pull up and she does 5 easily). She is always jumping, climbing, running (fastest runner in her soccer team).

Swimming is the best sport of all. For patients in a brace, they will extend the daily time out of a brace to accommodate swimming, it's that helpful.

[Anonymous]

Oldest had mild scoliosis, which improved when he was swimming more frequently as a teen. When off season, things worsened a bit and improved after being back in the pool. Got him through puberty with minimal to no visible curve. Agree with swimming. FWIW- I have a 39 degree curve so was on the lookout. Would be careful if all of the X-rays when she is so young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PP re surgeries here — agree that golf, tennis, javelin (anything that twists the spine) and also direct weight lifting is not great.

Thanks. I thought the same, but all the doctors we talked to said sports (especially at her age) are not affecting the spine. I was planning on suspending tennis at least for a bit, but my husband does not want to (especially since doctors validated his thinking). She plays twice a week about 1.5-2 hours each time.

[Anonymous]

I had mild scoliosis diagnosed at about the same age, maybe a little older - 9?

My mother put me into ballet lessons and it resolved itself. Ballet is fantastic for building a rock solid core strength and balance which will persist for years as will the way of holding one’s body in space. Highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oldest had mild scoliosis, which improved when he was swimming more frequently as a teen. When off season, things worsened a bit and improved after being back in the pool. Got him through puberty with minimal to no visible curve. Agree with swimming. FWIW- I have a 39 degree curve so was on the lookout. Would be careful if all of the X-rays when she is so young.

Agree with X-ray comment. Particularly since she is thin, they (and you) should be able to monitor her curve visually as she bends over. You can also drop a plumb line from the base of her neck, have her round her back just a bit, and then run your finger down her spine with your other hand as another check. You can also monitor for rib rotation, by looking to see if one side of her upper back is higher than the other. Her pediatrician can check her spine at each annual check-up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oldest had mild scoliosis, which improved when he was swimming more frequently as a teen. When off season, things worsened a bit and improved after being back in the pool. Got him through puberty with minimal to no visible curve. Agree with swimming. FWIW- I have a 39 degree curve so was on the lookout. Would be careful if all of the X-rays when she is so young.

Agree with X-ray comment. Particularly since she is thin, they (and you) should be able to monitor her curve visually as she bends over. You can also drop a plumb line from the base of her neck, have her round her back just a bit, and then run your finger down her spine with your other hand as another check. You can also monitor for rib rotation, by looking to see if one side of her upper back is higher than the other. Her pediatrician can check her spine at each annual check-up.

Thanks. The doctor told us that the x rays she gets are equivalent to a one way trip to Europe on a plane… I was worried too initially.

[Anonymous]

Still not sure that imaging every few months, in the absence of visible worsening of curvature or significant increase in height, will change your treatment plan. Would just be careful with radiation.