Scoliosis Home A-Z Health Information Health Library A-Z Scoliosis Overview Scoliosis is an abnormal outward deviation of the spine. The most common age group to be affected is the paediatric population. The types of scoliosis include:Congenital scoliosis, which arises soon after birth.Juvenile scoliosis is detected between the ages of 4 and 10 years.Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) occurs after 10 years of age. Symptoms Scoliosis is a painless disorder. It usually does not cause any neurological symptoms.Early onset scoliosis causes underdevelopment of lungs and heart function.Patients with AIS are usually concerned about their appearance with no other significant complaints. Diagnosis A thorough clinical examination to measure the magnitude of deformity, rule out the causes of deformity, and look for clinical signs of nerve tissue involvement.Spine X-ray to demonstrate the apex of deformity and its magnitude and analyse any bony abnormality of the spine.Spinal MRI to determine the status of the neural tissue. Further investigations would vary according to each patient. Treatment Non-surgical treatmentBracing is recommended for treating scoliosis in children with early-stage disease with mild deformity.Surgical treatmentThis involves correcting the deformity using screws and rods. This is also done as a palliative procedure to decrease the compression on important structures like the lungs.This complex procedure is usually carried out by an expert team, including a spine surgeon, an anaesthetist, a physician, and a physiotherapist.Highly skilled surgeons with extensive experience are needed to achieve favourable outcomes.Rehabilitation post-surgery is crucial to provide excellent results.