Scoliosis is a complex spinal condition that requires treatment. Measuring the size of a patient's unnatural spinal curvature is based on their Cobb angle measurement. Taken during X-ray, the Cobb angle helps diagnose and assess scoliosis, but the measurement also has limitations. Scoliosis is the development of an unnatural sideways spinal curvature, and there...
The orthopedic “Gold Standard” for the assessment of scoliosis is the Cobb angle, which is measured by determining the most-tilted spinal bones (vertebrae) in each curve. Lines are drawn along the top of the superior tilted vertebra and the bottom of the inferior tilted vertebra. Two more lines are drawn at an angle of 90 degrees to these lines, perpendicular...
Scoliosis is an incurable and progressive condition characterized by an abnormally curved spine. When it comes to understanding what’s happening with a patient’s spine, there are a variety of assessment systems in place. The Scoliometer test, Cobb angle, and Risser-Ferguson Method are the most widely used and accepted. Basic Anatomy of the Spine Before we...
Scoliosis can range from mild scoliosis to moderate scoliosis and severe scoliosis; a lower life expectancy isn't considered a common effect of the condition, but as a progressive condition, if scoliosis is left untreated, and/or is particularly severe, complications can develop with the potential to impact a patient's quality of life and life...
Not only are there different types of scoliosis, the condition ranges widely in severity. Scoliosis cases also vary based on patient age and curvature location. With so many different factors shaping a patient's condition, treatment plans have to be 100-percent customized. Understanding the severity levels of scoliosis is important because they range widely, and as...
The spine is one long complex structure with three main sections, and each spinal section has unique roles to play in preserving the spine's overall health and function. The health of the lumbar spine, in particular, is important for lower body movement. Scoliosis can disrupt the biomechanics of the entire spine, even if the unnatural spinal curve develops in a...
While scoliosis can progress suddenly with growth spurts, it tends to develop and progress over time. The nature of scoliosis is to get more severe, and progression is triggered by growth. Rapid and unpredictable growth spurts cause rapid-phase progression. Adolescents going through puberty are the most likely to experience rapid-phase progression. Scoliosis can...
Although having a family history of scoliosis is considered a risk factor, it's still not considered a genetic condition. Idiopathic scoliosis is thought to have some genetic factors, but the truth is that families share a lot more than just genes, so let's explore what that means. Scoliosis is an ancient spinal condition, but we still don't fully understand what...
Dr. Kang specializes in treating patients as young as 1.5-year-olds to 87-year-olds and everyone in between. There is a large population of patients who are left with no options because they are now an adult but not bad enough for surgery, or they are in surgical threshold but deemed too risky due to their age. Unfortunately, scoliosis is progressive, so even if...
While no back brace on its own is capable of correcting a scoliosis, when combined with other types of treatment, it can augment corrective treatment results. The traditional boston brace is associated with a number of shortfalls that are addressed by modern corrective bracing, so understanding how the different treatment approaches shape spinal health is...
Part of the reason scoliosis is considered a complex spinal condition to treat is because each case is unique; there are a number of patient and condition variables that shape a patient’s experience of life with the condition, and curvature type is an important factor. Not only are there different types and severity levels of scoliosis, the unnatural spinal...
Scoliosis is a highly-prevalent structural spinal condition that we’re still learning about. Scoliosis affects all ages, and the condition’s effects can differ based on a number of variables, including patient age; when it comes to rib pain, this is more common in adults and/or in severe cases with a lot of rotation. The effects of scoliosis can be widespread...