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Treatments for Scoliosis by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD

The treatment and management of scoliosis involves bracing or surgery. Scoliosis is monitored regularly and carefully to evaluate progression of the curvature. Treatment is usually reserved for curvatures greater than 20°, while surgery is usually recommended for curvatures greater than 45°-50°.

The goals of treatment for scoliosis include:

Good cosmetic outcome
Avoidance of complications in adulthood, such as lung disease due to restriction of a deformed chest cavity

Treatment involves the following:

Surgery | Other treatments—braces

At this time, there are no medications for the treatment of scoliosis.

References:

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org.
Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics. 10th ed. Mosby; 2003.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/.website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov.
Scoliosis Research Society website. Available at: http://www.srs.org.

Last reviewed September 2012 by Kari Kassir, MD

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Treatments for Scoliosis by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD

References:

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