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Juvenile Scoliosis

What is Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis?

Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis is typically defined as scoliosis that is first diagnosed between the ages of 4 and 10. This category comprises about 10% to 15% of all idiopathic scoliosis in children. At the younger end of the spectrum, boys are affected slightly more than girls and the curve is often left-sided. Towards the upper end of the age spectrum, the condition is more prevalent in girls and the curve tends to be right-sided. Children with juvenile scoliosis generally have a high risk of progression of their curve. Seven out of 10 children with this condition will worsen and require active treatment with scoliosis bracing. Note, juvenile idiopathic scoliosis is different to infantile idiopathic scoliosis, which is diagnosed in children between birth and 3 years of age. Infantile scoliosis accounts for fewer than 1% of all scoliosis cases in children.    One of our juvenile scoliosis patients was two years old when we first braced her. Her primary curve reduced from 44 to 27 degrees in 4 months. From left: first brace fitting, review of first brace and second brace fitting.

Treatment of Juvenile Scoliosis

In juvenile scoliosis, where there are curves between 10 and 25 degrees, Schroth physiotherapy may be able to make some corrections or control the curve. However, once the curve is greater than 25 degrees it is usually too large for physiotherapy alone to manage and physio in conjunction with scoliosis bracing is recommended. As with adolescent scoliosis, we treat juvenile scoliosis with our own bespoke version of the Cheneau brace, the LOC Scoliosis Brace. which takes a three-dimensional approach to the treatment of scoliosis combined with Schroth-based physiotherapy principles. Depending on the age of the child, parents may need to help them follow their recommended postural activities. Once correction of the curve has been achieved, scoliosis bracing may be discontinued for one or more years with a return to observation. As the child begins an adolescent growth spurt, it is likely that they will need to be re-braced to maintain the previously achieved correction of the curve.       These scans are from a three-year-old boy with juvenile idiopathic scoliosis. He first came to us with a single thoracic curve and was hypermobile. He was fitted with a bespoke Cheneau-Gensingen brace and had custom foot orthotics fitted to aid with his hypermobile pes planus (flat feet). Overall, he responded very well to bracing.

Locations:

Locations Kingston upon Thames (HQ) Cambridge Bristol Romford