Scoliosis: The Spine

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Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. The word scoliosis originates from a Greek word meaning "crooked". All spines have curves, but every now and then, the spin curves in the wrong direction. This can occur in multiple places throughout the spine – in the thoracic spine, the lumbar spine, or both. It normally occurs during the growth spurt just before puberty. There are multiple types of scoliosis, including congenital scoliosis, neuromuscular scoliosis, degenerative scoliosis, and idiopathic scoliosis.

These different types of scoliosis have many different causes. Congenital scoliosis is caused by a bone abnormality that's present at birth. Neuromuscular scoliosis is most commonly seen in people who have cerebral palsy and is the