Research shows that adult scoliosis affects 2-5% of the population, which means the health condition affects 6-9 people in the U.S. The condition can develop in early childhood as well. However, it more commonly occurs in adults of both genders.
A recent study shows that one in every two people suffer from a mild form of scoliosis. The mild form is usually painless and does not require proper treatment. For instance, scoliosis exercises can be done to prohibit the symptoms from becoming more intense.
On the other hand, acute or severe adult scoliosis is a very painful condition, which becomes even more complicated with age. Adult scoliosis requires proper medical treatment.
What is Adult Scoliosis?
In general, scoliosis is a health condition characterized by an abnormal spinal curvature. When you have scoliosis, your spine will rotate as well as lead to the development of a side-by-side curve, which is either mild (10 degrees) or severe (100 degrees).
In most situations, adult scoliosis is mild and does not require any sophisticated treatment. In the adult population, the degree of the spinal curve may not necessarily allow the surgeon to figure out its intensity and determine treatment.
So, treatment is done to relieve the symptoms of the disorder and fixing the curve. The primary objective of treating adult scoliosis is to improve function by reducing pain. Although scoliosis is painless, aging is a significant factor that causes the degeneration of the spine.
What are the Causes of Adult Scoliosis?
There are different causes of adult scoliosis, and each cause varies depending on the type of health condition. Spine curves or degeneration of the spine is the primary cause of adult scoliosis. It is because spinal degeneration occurs with aging.
Many studies show that adult scoliosis can also be a case of childhood scoliosis, which is diagnosed in adulthood. In certain cases, adolescent scoliosis develops signs and symptoms with aging. So, when there are painful sensations, the patient undergoes various treatments, which include conservative options and surgical options.
Most cases of this condition don’t have any symptoms, but the patient may suffer from pain. Keep in mind that pain in the spinal area can occur for various reasons, which include core musculature weakness, leg pain, weakness, or numbness, inability to stand upright, and arthritis.
Pressure on the lumbar spine may also cause adult scoliosis. A patient with adult scoliosis can experience some change in the body, which includes uneven alignment in the hips and pelvis area. Height loss is another sign of adult scoliosis.
What is the Possible Treatment for Adult Scoliosis?
There are many treatment options for adult scoliosis, such as pain medication, scoliosis exercises, physical therapy, core-strengthening workouts, etc. It is essential to quit smoking if you have adult scoliosis because smoking increases the risk of an increased degenerative process.
In most situations, the physician or doctor recommends physical therapy and scoliosis exercises to relieve pain and maintain strength. Scoliosis exercises include working to improve posture, low-impact exercises, such as walking and swimming, and stretching.
If medications and physical therapy fail to provide pain relief, the doctor will recommend nerve block, or epidural injects to relieve pain. However, when all types of conservative treatment options fail, your doctor will suggest you undergo minimally invasive surgery.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
The primary objective of minimally invasive surgery is to correct the curve as well as reduce any neurological and pain symptoms. The Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas has a team of qualified surgeons who have performed various minimally invasive surgeries to treat adult scoliosis.
Extreme lateral interbody fusion or XLIF is a minimally invasive technique that allows the surgeon to approach the spine from the side. The purpose of XLIF is to avoid major muscles and tissues in the back.
Our surgeon makes a tiny incision in the side of the patient – i.e., between the pelvic and lower ribs. Then, the surgeon inserts a bone graft material or spacer between the vertebrae.
MINT has a qualified and professional team that monitors the position of the spacer so that they place it correctly. The surgeon may also use special screws to provide additional stability to the spine.
MINT has state-of-the-art surgical equipment and experienced surgeons. The combination of the skills of our surgeons with the latest technology has led MINT to perform successful surgeries. That’s why the success rate of XLIF for adult scoliosis is well-above 95%.
If you have pain in your spine due to adult scoliosis, and other types of treatments, including scoliosis exercises, have failed to provide relief, you need to undergo minimally invasive surgery, such as XLIF or interbody fusion here at MINT. Contact us today!
