Scoliosis Causes

In the case of the most common form of scoliosis, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, there is not a clear causal agent and it is generally believed to be multi-factorial.  Several causes have been implicated, but there is no consensus among scientists as to the cause of scoliosis.

The role of genetic factors in the development of this condition is widely accepted.  Scoliosis is most often diagnosed in women.  In some cases, scoliosis exists at birth due to congenital vertebral anomalies.  Sometimes the development of scoliosis during adolescence is due to an underlying abnormality such as a tethered spinal cord, but more often the cause is unknown or idiopathic, which has been inherited by many factors, including genetic.

The scoliosis often presents itself, or worsens during the adolescent growth spurt.  In April 2007, researchers at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children identified the first gene associated with idiopathic scoliosis, CHD7.  The medical advance was the result of a study over 10 years and is described in the May 2007 issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.
Risk Factors

Age: children from 4-6 weeks gestation at 3 years; Youths from 4 to 10 years of age, adolescents from 11 to 17 years.
Family members who have had scoliosis due to an inherited disease.
Delayed puberty and delayed menarche in girls.
Symptoms

Patients who have reached skeletal maturity are less likely to have a case of worsening.  Some severe cases of scoliosis can lead to reduced lung capacity, putting pressure on the heart, and restriction of physical activities.  The symptoms of scoliosis may include:
Uneven musculature on one side of the spine;
A rib importance and/or important scapula, caused by the rotation of the rib cage on thoracic scoliosis;
Uneven hips/leg length;
Asymmetric size or location of breast cancer in women;
Slow nerve action (in some cases).