Talk:Scoliosis

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[edit] There

There are a couple of requests for sitation that can be taken care of with this link. I am not experienced enough in wiki editing to know if I was doing it right, so I'll leave it here in case someone else wants to take care of it. http://www.iscoliosis.com/causes.html TecBrat 14:35, 7 August 2007 (UTC)


what is scoliosis?

scoliosis is a lateral (side to side) curvature of the spine, it generally curves in either a C shape (one curve) and can be said to be C-left or right depending on which way it curves, or it can be in an S shape where there are two curves.

[edit] Harrington Rod

I thought many thousands of people had Harrington Rods and that most surgery now involved improved rods with better designs (which are less liable to breaking) combined with fusion? I have my doubts about the validity of the final couple of paragraphs. I could be wrong.

[edit] Management

The vast majority of scoliotic cases identified are adressed by traditional doctors, and traditional doctors predominantly observe if under 20 degrees, brace until 45, and have surgery at 45. Chiropractic procedures are highly frowned upon by traditional medicine.

I think that's a little too cut and dry...no surgeon will cut someone up just because they went over 45. Unless the guy is knife-happy in which case he should be de-licensed lol. 45' would be the point where surgery would be considered, not performed. But most surgeons won't unless severe pain is present or organs are being compromised or the curve is rapidly progressing and there's greater chance of much severe case...

As far as chiropractic procedures go, who cares if it's frowned upon by traditional medicine? That would be just someone's opinion. You'll find that any medical procedures are frowned upon by someone. There's no doubt about that for symptomatic relief, chiropractic is one of the, if not the best modality barring severe cases where surgeries are warranted. As for correctional type of therapy, the main complaint is lack of long term studies. Curve corrections are observed often enough. There's just no controlled study on the efficacy long term wise. That's being put on by several institutes as I am aware of. --Scolidoc 23:32, 26 April 2006 (UTC)


The "management" section contains a list organizing the order of events in which scoliotic cases are normally adressed. The list implies uniformity in treatment. This is not the case. Treatment varies tremendously based on doctor and degree of curve so much that any order of treatment priorities is meaningless. Thanatosimii 01:49, 10 March 2006 (UTC)

I believe it depends on where you live. My doctor who did treat people with scoliosis in the States, found they did surgery much earlier. However, my operation did not occur until my degrees were around 70-80, simply because I did not experience alot of pain. It all depends on where you live, I suppose. Disinclination 23:01, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

Disinclination...it doens't just depend on where you are...it depends on each individual surgeon's opinion. There's really no clear cut guideline. Everything is on case by case basis.. for example..if someone is at 45 and show aggressive trend of progression, most surgeons will want to do surgery. But if someone is already at 50 or 60 but likely stable without much symptoms, surgeons in right mind wouldn't touch it..there are those who'd like to perform surgery on every warm body that walks into their door...but let's not let them be the standard...I think the problem with this article is that there aren't any experts here. Everyone's either a patient with narrow view biased by their own cases or some practitioners out to promote their own methods...perhaps deletion of article would do better as this article is totally unbalanced. I'm afraid of patients getting the wrong idea about the treatment process and doubting their own doctors because of this article... at least put some type of disclaimer...

[edit] Spinecor

http://www.scolibrace.com/pdf/posttreatmentresults.pdf SPINECOR: A non-rigid brace for the treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis: Initial Post-Treatment Results. Eurospine 2003 12: 141-1 Christine Coillard, M.D., Michel A Leroux, Ph.D., Karl F, Zabjek, MSc., Charles Hilaire Rivard, M.D.

I've added spinecor brace information on the brace section. Above is a link to peer reviewed study on the brace. Below is another published study on it. The brace is used frequently enough with enough data that it deserves inclusion.

Survival analysis of a group of 365 idiopathic scoliosis patients treated with the Dynamic SpineCor Brace Résonances Eurospéenes Du Rachis. 14(43):p. 1782-1786. French. Vachon V, Coillard C, Zabjek KF, Rhalmi S, Rivard CH

[edit] Definition of Scoliosis

Definition of scoliosis should be changed. Lateral side to side curvature is an inaccurate way to describe the condition. Spines curve in coupled movements and spines are often deformed in cork-screw type of manner which causes changes in lordotic and kyphotic curves of involved regions. It is a 3-d deformation and current definition takes into account only 2-d aspect of the condition. --Scolidoc 23:33, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] More on Definition of Scoliosis

I think it is inaccurate to say that scoliosis is incurable. I certainly wouldn't go out and claim that there are cures. But there has been numerous cases where new types of bracing has been able to achieve correction where the new curves've been kept 5 years after the surgery.

I'd like to direct you guys to http://www.istreamplanet.com/srs/media/12126.asx it's a video of Dr. Rivard's presentation on 5 year survival analysis of St. Justine's brace patient at Scoliosis Research Society's 40th annual meeting.

We certainly don't have cure for all types of scoliosis. But at least, some of the milder conditions were shown to be reversible with certain types of approach. --Scolidoc 23:33, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Palates has been known to help.

Well, when you have a cure, it usually means that the symptoms will go away. If someone was to take the rods and screws out of my spine, for god only knows what reason, my spine would regress. So would someone wearing a back brace, like I did. I don't understand how palates would help slow down the progression, either. I think it is incurable. Disinclination 22:44, 25 October 2006 (UTC)

There are many types of scoliosis..let's not assume what you have is the only kind. I think the entry should include that we are specifically talking about idiopathic scoliosis as posturer or antalgic scoliosis can certainly be cured easily. As for idiopathic scoliosis, although there aren't any definite cure for all idiopathic scoliosis, there has been enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that some idiopathic scoliosis can be reversed or in other words cured. Just in idiopathic scoliosis, there are different categories and classifications. Depending on the severity and stage of development during intervention, with all the conditions meeting just right, some types of idiopathic scoliosis can be reversed... as for the abover person who seems to think cure only exists if he can take the rods out of his body, let's think outside of your body...you represent 1 person who has already had surgical intervention...and you are talking about reversing the surgery...not scoliosis...

I honestly think it can be an influence. I can't say my doctor is the all mighty supreme authority on all things dealing with scoliosis, but he's been a doctor for a very long time, and has probably gotten around to meeting other doctors. Thats what a responsible doctor would do, to seek the opinion of others. I am not in favour of deleting the article, simply because there is alot of good information on this page. Oh, and please sign your comments using four ~'s. Disinclination 21:29, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

__________ Scoliosis is most definitely curable, everything from surgery to the back brace can help improve if not cure you. and I agree, palates really does help. I have scoliosis, and it's done wonders in strengthening my back. Fashionguru48 (talk) 20:15, 31 March 2008 (UTC)fashionguru48

[edit] Citing sources for this article

There is no reference section indicating what references were used in this article. I haven't yet check to see if the external links were the references used, but if they are - it should be noted in a reference section. -- backburner001 20:21, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

I've added one source and the appropriate reference and footnote sections to start things off. But I'd like to see more references for this article. Perhaps the initial contributors can add their previous references to the list? -- backburner001 20:34, 9 May 2006 (UTC)
what sources are considered appropriate reference and where do you add the footnotes? I'm willing to hunt down some references. I have tons of them lol --Scolidoc 23:15, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Regarding Alexander Technique...

any reason why this technic was introduced on the first paragraph? Any peer reviewed journals stating this technique is effective? I ask because there are other forms of more popular techniques which weren't mentioned. I'm wondering if this paragraph was written by alexander technique provider lol.. I'm not bagging on the technique..rather..i'd love to get more information myself.. the article just seems unbalanced. --Scolidoc 21:10, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

I've re-read the article and am concerned... it claims Alexander Technique can effect the natural course of the disease... There's not a single reference to this anywhere to be found. From what I understand, only modality to effect the natural course of scoliosis is surgery and perhaps braces in some cases. Can anyone cite 1 reference?

--Scolidoc 04:07, 17 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] External links

I think that this link (Scoliosis Correction - dedicated to non-surgical, non-bracing correction of scoliosis in children & adults) is inappropriate for a lot of reasons. I think it is only a sort of scary advertising, and that could damage people who seek for informations about scoliosis. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 87.0.239.234 (talk) 18:11, 21 March 2007 (UTC).


OK...why is scoliosissystems.com keep appearing on this page? It's not an informational page or official spinecor web site. I have replaced spinecor link to official site. I've also erased Scoliosissystems.com and scoliosis care foundation web site links because it's owned by same guy and he's using this page to promote his business. That web site should be banned. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.103.221.195 (talk) 06:52, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] No cause?

Under the "Cause" section, it says "There is no cause of scoliosis." Surely there's something wrong with that statement; if there's nothing to cause it, it wouldn't happen. 69.226.248.242 (talk) 16:59, 18 December 2007 (UTC)

Scoliosis is genetic. There is most certainly a cause, your genes.

Fashionguru48 (talk) 20:09, 31 March 2008 (UTC)Fashionguru48

[edit] Terribly Written Last Section

Read the "Alternatives" section. It sounds like it was written by a well-intentioned third grader. This could really use a rewrite. 76.108.31.31 (talk) 05:42, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Hijacked

Looks like this subject has been hijacked by people of Scoliosis SOS who have link down at the external link section. They have changed information of the management section to their purpose and are stalking this site for any changes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Spyderlad (talk • contribs) 00:00, 7 February 2008 (UTC)


I've deleted Rigo article. It was an advertising attempt from the brace manufacturers themselves. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.104.125.79 (talk) 19:29, 9 February 2008 (UTC)


Can someone stop scoliosis sos from advertising on this site??? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.104.125.79 (talk) 19:32, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

Please could scoliosis sos be prevented from advertising, they are being really blatant and are making false claims that their manager Erika Maude introduced Schroth therapy to the English-speaking world despite the fact that the US clinic has been open far longer than hers and individual practitioners have been practicing in the UK and US for years. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.80.99.13 (talk) 15:06, 21 February 2008 (UTC)

Whowever's writing the Schroth Method section, you need to stop advertising on this article. Only put in what's relevant. You do not need to go through the whole history of the technique. And do not advertise particular clinic. It is obvious who's writing the piece... If you intend to write an article on Schroth, create one for schroth then link it from this article rather than making schroth into the only treatment modality for scoliosis... Spyderlad (talk) 22:46, 25 February 2008 (UTC)

Heads up, erikamaude.com is Scoliosis SOS. How insiduous can they get? --Nathanael Bar-Aur L. (talk) 20:32, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Vertebral Stapling

Moved here for discussion:

Vertebral Stapling

Vertebral Body Stapling (VBS) is a "minimally invasive" alternative to bracing. Once the staples are inserted the staple itself applies pressure to the convex (outer) side of the curve therefore reducing the rate in which it grows allowing the other side to “catch up”. Therefore there is a very real possibility that correction can take place not only the day of surgery but over time. Conventional bracing offers no likelihood of correction whatsoever; conventional bracing only hopes to maintain the curve during growth. There are no guarantees with either conventional bracing or VBS that curves will not continue to progress.

The basic criteria for VBS are as follows:

1. The child must still have years of growth remaining (normally girls up to age 14 and boys up to age 16).

2. Curve less than 45°

3. Spine flexibility

The above list does not automatically qualify or disqualify anyone, these are general criteria.

During the operation, the patient lies on his side, and one of the lungs is temporarily deflated to allow the surgeons room to insert the staples. The surgeon can straighten out the spine when the patient is relaxed under anesthesia and with each staple clamp together two vertebrae on the side the bones are bowing out, which should correct the curve and keep it from getting worse. The prongs of the staple are kept straight in a basin of cold water as the patient is prepared for surgery. When the inch-wide staples are clamped onto the bone, the body's temperature will cause them to curve into a C.

The staples are made of Nitanol, known as a "shape-memory metal" for its ability to change shape according to temperature.Use of staples in orthopedic surgery isn't new, but previous attempts to use them to treat scoliosis failed because the prongs broke off. Memory metal, an alloy of nickel and titanium developed by the aviation industry, is better at accommodating the motion of the spine.

The surgery was developed by Dr. Randall Betz at the Philadelphia Shriners Hospital and is now also performed at Boston Children's Hospital.

8. New Surgical Treatments for Scoliosis: Vertebral Body Stapling and Wedge Osteotomies, Randall R. Betz http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article1895.html

9. Betz RR, D'Andrea LP, Mulcahey MJ, et al. Vertebral body stapling procedure for the treatment of scoliosis in the growing child. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2005; (434):55-60.

10. Betz RR, Kim J, D'Andrea LP, et al. An innovative technique of vertebral body stapling for the treatment of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a feasibility, safety, and utility study. Spine. 2003; 15; 28(20):S255-S265.

(End of moved material) I think we can probably find some useful information in this to add to the article. This version is too long, too descriptive, too promotional in general, and promotional of Dr. Randall Betz.

See WP:COI, WP:SPAM, WP:NPOV, and WP:SOAP. --Ronz (talk) 16:05, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Would it be appropriate to include a seperate page explaining vertebral stapling, linked to the scoliosis page? I am not clear on why this version is too long (no longer than explanation of spinal fusion) Also, Randall Betz pioneered this surgery (as Paul Harrington developed the harrington rod surgery which is also mentioned in this article.) I do not see this as promotional - Randall Betz, MD is the Chief of Staff at Shriners Philly - non-profit hospital. But I will agree to remove/revise any of the above info to get some of it included. Please advise. This is an important "new" development in the treatment of scoliosis - and is now being moved out of the experimental phase and being implemented at more hospitals nationwide: Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children, Boston Children's Hospital, Carawinslow (talk) 12:05, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Language used

Personally, I find the language used in the article really frustrating. Wikipedia, in may opinion, has always been good at explaining things and not leaving the reader confused. This articles sounds like it's written by a gad student ad a medical college in some parts, and like a third grade research paper in others. someone should definethe big words, and even out the language used so it's consistent.Fashionguru48 (talk) 20:22, 31 March 2008 (UTC)