Today curvature of the spine is quite common among children and adolescents. Often, with the early development of scoliosis, which manifests itself from five to seven years, and in the absence of proper treatment, by the age of sixteen, a person turns into a "hunchback", who is diagnosed with multiple disorders in the body. Therefore, when making a diagnosis of dysplastic scoliosis, it is necessary to start treatment to prevent the development of serious he alth complications. In this case, the important point is to prevent the development of irreversible changes in the spinal column.
Problem description
Dysplastic scoliosis is the most severe form of curvature of the spinal column with a congenital pathology of the development of its lumbosacral region. At an early stage, the disease does not show symptoms, the pathology is detected at the age of about ten years and is rapidly progressing. Such a diseasedevelops against the background of impaired metabolism and blood supply in the tissues of the vertebrae and discs.
Pathology usually starts at an early age. The occurrence of scoliosis is caused by an increase in the load on the fifth lumbar and first sacral vertebrae as the body grows and develops. Dysplastic scoliosis code according to ICD-10 has M41, M41.8. The disease is characterized by the formation of anti-curvature arches in the thoracic spine, which is accompanied by a sharp turn of the vertebral bodies around the vertical axis of the spinal column (the ribs are twisted). This causes the formation of a costal hump, which leads to disfigurement of the chest, respiratory failure, and a decrease in lung volume. A person has increased flexibility of the joints and the spine, statistical flat feet, weakness of the muscles of the back, buttocks and abdominal wall, which leads to a severe violation of posture and progression of the curvature of the spine.
Considering what scoliosis of the spine is, it should be noted that this disease is also characterized by rapid development, provoking the appearance of violations of the functionality of the chest organs and disfigurement of a person. In the absence of therapy, the pathology acquires a rather complex course.
Scoliosis: causes of development
The causes of the pathology lie in congenital anomalies in the development of the vertebrae. Such anomalies develop as a result of the following factors:
- Complete absence of fusion of the vertebral arches.
- Strong fusion of the vertebra withsacrum.
- Fusion of the first sacral vertebra and the fifth lumbar vertebra.
There are no exact reasons for the development of congenital pathologies in medicine. Doctors put forward various theories, according to which scoliosis has the following causes:
- Spinal pathology of a congenital nature.
- Disturbance of the growth of the elements of the spine as a result of the load on the spine.
- Unilateral growth retardation of one or more vertebrae as a result of congenital epidystrophy.
- Violation of metabolic processes in the connective tissue.
- Movement of the core of the intervertebral disc when the cartilage tissue is destroyed in the convex side, which causes the appearance of spinal deformity.
The risk group includes children whose parents have this pathology.
Symptoms of the disease
Usually dysplastic scoliosis shows symptoms depending on the stage of its development. In the early stages, the disease is asymptomatic, over time, the curvature of the spinal column begins to form in the child. He has a stoop and almost imperceptible asymmetry of the body in the form of different heights of the shoulders and protruding shoulder blades of different localization. The main sign of pathology is the development of torsion - twisting of the vertebrae in a vertical projection. If untreated, a costal hump forms in a person, which can be seen when it is tilted forward. Then there is a shortening of the lower limb and a skew of the pelvis. All these phenomena are accompanied by pain syndrome, which is aggravated by physicalloads.
Also, dysplastic thoracic scoliosis provokes pinching of the spinal cord, which can cause neurological symptoms in the form of loss of sensation, impaired motor activity, paresis and paralysis of the lower extremities.
In an advanced case, there may be a curvature of the toes, increased urination, especially at night, a mental disorder, a violation of tendon reflexes, there are changes in blood pressure, hyperemia of the skin in the pathological area. When nerve fibers are compressed, the activity of the respiratory organs, blood vessels and heart is disrupted.
Diagnostic measures
Many do not know which doctor treats scoliosis. The diagnosis and treatment of this disease is carried out by an orthopedist or surgeon. The main diagnostic methods are radiography, and throughout life the patient will encounter it more than once. Pictures of the spinal column are performed in several projections and different positions of the body. Usually, the images show an expansion of the gap between the vertebrae, the presence of wedge-shaped vertebrae, their sharp rotation around the vertical axis. This technique makes it possible to identify dysplastic scoliosis at an early stage of development, as well as to determine the possible causes of its further development. During the X-ray, the angle of curvature of the spine is determined.
As additional methods for examining the state of internal organs, nerves and blood vessels, other diagnostic methods can be used,such as ultrasound, MRI and CT. It is necessary to differentiate pathology with scoliotic posture. In the latter case, there is no curvature of the spine.
Treatment
We already know which doctor treats scoliosis. Therapy of the disease is prescribed after making an accurate diagnosis and identifying the degree of development of the disease. Treatment is primarily aimed at solving the following problems:
- Returning the axis of the spine to the correct position.
- Respiratory function normalization.
- Elimination of pathologies of the heart and blood vessels.
An experienced doctor will tell you how to cure scoliosis.
Conservative treatment
In the early stages of the development of pathology, the following methods are usually used:
- Swimming breaststroke makes it possible to achieve good results in just three months. Today there are special groups in which the trainer individually selects a set of exercises, taking into account the characteristics of the disease.
- Massage for scoliosis in children and adults allows you to normalize blood circulation and muscle tone.
- Therapeutic gymnastics is the main method of correcting spinal deformity. In this case, an experienced instructor will select a set of exercises in each case.
- A diet that avoids preservatives and fatty foods. The patient's diet should include fish, dairy products and olive oil.
- Wearing an orthopedic corset to reduceload on the spinal column and prevent its curvature. Wearing a corset is also provided if there is chest deformity due to scoliosis.
- Electromyostimulation aimed at normalizing muscle tone.
Surgical treatment
If the pathology is in the late stages of development and is rapidly progressing, the surgeon will tell you how to cure scoliosis, since in this case surgery is used. The indications for surgery are:
- Pain syndrome that cannot be eliminated by medication;
- Rapid progression of spinal deformity;
- The angle of curvature is more than sixty degrees, which provokes the development of pulmonary and heart failure;
- Disfiguring the patient.
Surgical intervention is aimed at eliminating the curvature of the spine, preventing damage to the spinal cord, relieving compression syndrome, and eliminating a cosmetic defect.
Types of surgical interventions
Surgeries for dysplastic scoliosis can be performed in two ways:
- Stage-by-stage surgical intervention involves the establishment of a temporary metal structure. In a certain period of time, a series of operations is carried out during which the structure is removed. The disadvantage of this method is the implementation of not one operation, but several.
- Single-stage operation, in which a permanent metal structure is installed, which helps to fix the vertebrae. A positive result is achieved with a single operation performed.
Select operation
The choice of surgical intervention in each case is considered individually. In doing so, the doctor takes into account the following points:
- Age of the patient. Typically, surgeries are prescribed in adulthood, as children often manage to correct the curvature with conservative methods.
- Localization of spinal deformity.
- The presence of mental problems in a person, which may develop due to the presence of a disease.
- Duration of the course of the disease. In advanced cases, they resort only to surgical interventions.
Disease prognosis
This disease is characterized by rapid progression, so the prognosis will depend on the timeliness of patient care. In the early stages of the development of the disease, good results can be achieved with the help of conservative treatment. Good gymnastics and massage helps with scoliosis in children and adults with its early detection. Doctors note that when using surgical treatment of pathology, negative consequences and complications often occur.
Prevention of pathology
For the purpose of prevention, it is necessary to carry out educational work about what scoliosis of the spine is, as well as about methods of dealing with this disease. Preventive measures should be as follows:
- Regular hiking onfresh air. This makes it possible to improve metabolism. Provide tissues with oxygen for the normal functioning of cells.
- Having a long period of time in a horizontal position on a hard surface. This event is especially relevant for those people who suffer from periodic pain in the back. Such an event will get rid of pain and discomfort.
- Constant observance of the correct posture, the back should be even. This condition is the main one for the normal process of formation of the vertebral axis. Often, in the early stages of the development of pathology, constant maintenance of correct posture, physical activity can completely eliminate the curvature of the spinal column.
- Conducting physical therapy classes. This makes it possible to tone the whole body, adjust the spine. Often, exercise therapy is prescribed one month before a planned operation, as well as during the patient's rehabilitation period.
Recommendations
There are several principles for developing a he althy spinal column. These include:
- When staying in one position for a long time, for example, when sedentary, you need to periodically take breaks to get up and move around.
- When sitting at a table, it is recommended to change the position of the legs often enough.
- When sitting in a chair, you need to periodically put your hands on the armrests to relieve the load from the spine.
- To relax the spinal column, it is recommended periodicallypull your knees to your chest.
- During physical education, you need to bend your back as much as possible to eliminate dislocations of the vertebrae.
Adhering to these simple rules and recommendations, a person will have a he althy spine and correct posture.
