First of all, it is important to note that scoliosis is NOT considered to be a fatal condition. A curved spine cannot directly result in death.

However, there are some secondary risks which sometimes occur as a result of scoliosis, and these can lead to death in a small minority of cases. 

In its most severe form, scoliosis can affect the heart and lungs, limiting their ability to function and leading to complications that can potentially result in death. The deformity of the spine and chest wall can restrict lung function, thus reducing oxygen circulation, causing lung tissue to die off and preventing healthy lung growth in younger patients. This can also impact the heart’s ability to function correctly, as the lack of oxygen and proper distribution causes progressive stress, along with the crowding of the organs.

This only occurs in patients with the most severe curvatures (i.e. 100 degrees or more). The symptoms of such conditions also become gradually worse over time, which completely eliminates the possibility that scoliosis could cause sudden death with no prior warning or opportunity to prevent it. Treatment is almost always administered long before the condition has an opportunity to progress to this point, which usually prevents the secondary risks from developing altogether.

Most cases of scoliosis develop during adolescence, although the condition can sometimes occur in very young children. Progressive infantile scoliosis is considered to present a higher risk to the patient than scoliosis that develops later in life due to the potential impact on a young, developing body and the risk of progression as the child matures. For this reason, preventative treatments such as bracing are usually recommended right away in order to reduce the risk of later-in-life complications as far as possible.

Once an individual’s spinal curve has reached an angle of 45-50 degrees, surgery is usually recommended in order to prevent the curve progressing to such an extent that it has a secondary impact on the individual’s health. While the surgery can be a permanent solution to the progression of a spinal curvature, there are several associated risks which can arise as a result of surgery – infection, for example.

That being said, death during spinal fusion surgery is very rare indeed, especially among patients who are in good health aside from their scoliosis. For otherwise healthy patients, the incidence of death as a complication of surgery is said to be less than 1%. The risk is higher for those with other conditions, as well as for older patients, although it is important to note that this is also applies to any other surgical procedure.

While a handful of scoliosis cases have led to the patient’s death, there are many preventative measures which can be taken in order to avoid this outcome. Here at Scoliosis SOS, we specialise in providing individually-tailored correction treatments that are designed with the patient’s specific requirements in mind. We have treated patients as young as 4 and as old as 90+, all with spinal curvatures of varying severity. By educating patients about their condition and teaching them the exercises needed to prevent future curve progression, we are able to avoid the risks associated with severe scoliosis and surgery, further reducing the already low chance of death by scoliosis.

 

Osteopenia is a condition where the bones of the human body lose some of their density, making them more fragile and leading to an increased risk of fractures. Osteopenia often occurs naturally with age and is particularly common amongst post-menopausal women. However, there are certain things that may make you more susceptible to osteopenia:

• Excessive drinking
• Smoking
• Not getting enough exercise
• Coeliac disease
• Low BMI
• Certain medications

If you’re familiar with a condition called osteoporosis, all of the above may sound somewhat familiar. Given that both conditions are characterised by a reduction in bone density (usually occurring in later life), you may even be wondering if osteopenia is just another name for osteoporosis.

 

Well, you’re half right: osteopenia is really just a milder form of osteoporosis. If you have osteopenia, your bone mass has begun to decrease, but your condition is not severe enough to be called osteoporosis. Osteopenia sometimes progresses to the point of full-blown osteoporosis, but many osteopenia sufferers remain in that transitional stage – not every case of osteopenia develops into a case of osteoporosis.

 

Both osteopenia and osteoporosis are diagnosed using something called a DEXA scan. During a DEXA scan, X-rays are used to analyse your bone mineral density; your results are then compared to a healthy person of your age and sex to find your so-called ‘T score’.

• Higher than -1 SD: You do not have osteopenia or osteoporosis.
• -1 to -2.5 SD: You do not have osteoporosis, but you may be diagnosed with osteopenia.
• Lower than -2.5 SD: You have osteoporosis.

Reduced bone density means weaker bones, and fractures aren’t necessarily the only thing that osteopenia / osteoporosis sufferers have to worry about. A spine that has been weakened by osteopenia is more likely to curve over time, and so osteopenia / osteoporosis patients are more likely to develop adult degenerative scoliosis than people with a healthy bone mineral density.

 

The first step for every Scoliosis SOS patient is attending our clinic for an initial consultation. At the beginning of your consultation, we will go through your medical records, evaluate any symptoms you’re currently experiencing, and ask you about any previous treatments you may have received for your back problems. Next, we will conduct a medical examination and evaluation of your spine and back; this means taking many measurements and performing a formetric scan of your back. 

Another form of scoliosis scan that we use here at Scoliosis SOS is the Pedoscan. This scan is used for analysis and recording of static and dynamic foot pressures alongside gait analysis. Using precise high-frequency pressure plates, a Pedoscan provides an intricate analysis of the weight distribution and behaviour of the patient’s feet both when standing still and during movement. This scan gives us an insight into how your spinal curve might be affecting your posture and walking habits.

If you wish to book an initial consultation at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, please complete the enquiry form on our Contact Us page.

 

People with scoliosis sometimes find it more difficult to move around than people with healthy spines. This can be a big problem for sports enthusiasts with curved spines: mobility and flexibility are two very important attributes when you’re engaging in physical activities, and some scoliosis sufferers struggle to perform to the best of their abilities when it comes to athletic pursuits.

 

Running is one sport where the presence of a spinal curvature can cause real problems for the athlete. Today, we’re going to look at what exactly scoliosis can mean for runners before exploring some possible treatment options.

Scoliosis can affect a person’s ability to run in a number of different ways:

• A curved spine often leads to pain and discomfort, which can eat away at a runner’s stamina and endurance – especially when it lasts for long periods. (Some scoliosis sufferers find swimming to be a more comfortable, less painful form of exercise.)
• In some cases, an abnormally large spinal curve can cause reduced lung capacity, resulting in compromised breathing. Breathing is a crucial part of running (particularly distance running, e.g. marathons), and scoliosis can sometimes cause problems by making it difficult for the runner to catch their breath.
• When scoliosis causes reduced flexibility, it may impair a runner’s performance by limiting their range of movement.

Does running make scoliosis worse?

• Poor posture
• Lifting heavy objects (manual handling injuries)
• Pulled muscles or ligaments
• Stress / fatigue
• Hard blows to the back (e.g. falling on your back)
• Medical conditions such as scoliosis or spondylolisthesis

Sometimes, however, the pain doesn’t go away (this is called ‘chronic pain’ or ‘persistent pain’). In this case, it may be necessary to seek treatment.

If you are suffering from severe and/or persistent back pain, you should visit your GP. They will most likely recommend one (or more) of the following treatments:

• Pain relief medication. In order to help you deal with the pain, your doctor may prescribe a course of painkillers. Different types of medication may be recommended depending on the severity of your pain and other factors: if you only require light pain relief, paracetamol or ibuprofen might do the trick, whereas particularly excruciating pain may require something stronger (such as codeine or tramadol). Always consult your GP before taking pain medication.
• Physical therapy. In certain circumstances, physical therapy may be recommended as a way of reducing your pain and helping you to live your life normally. Some forms of physical therapy are available on the NHS, although if your pain is caused by an underlying medical issue, it may be a good idea to seek a specialised treatment course that is specifically tailored to your condition (e.g. ScolioGold therapy for scoliosis and other curvatures of the spine).
• Surgery. Some causes of chronic back pain can be corrected via a surgical operation. For instance, if you have a severe case of scoliosis that’s causing persistent pain, spinal fusion surgery might be recommended as a possible solution. However, surgery is invasive and comes with many risks, and there are several alternatives to surgery that you should consider before undergoing an operation.