Types of Scoliosis

You can find detailed information about each of the types by clicking the index link above.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, in cooperation with the Scoliosis Research Society, describe three different types of scoliosis that can occur in children - congenital (present at birth), neuromuscular, or idiopathic.

• Types of Scoliosis - Congenital

  This type of scoliosis occurs in one out of 1,000 live births. It is often caused by one of the following:
   

  • failure of the vertebrae to form normally

  • absence of vertebrae

  • partially formed vertebrae

  • lack of separation of the vertebrae
    
     

• Types of Scoliosis - Neuromuscular

  This type of scoliosis is associated with many neurological conditions, especially in those children who do not walk, such as the following:
   

  • cerebral palsy

  • spina bifida

  • muscular dystrophy

  • paralytic conditions

  • spinal cord tumors

  • neurofibromatosis - a genetic condition that affects the peripheral nerves that causes changes to occur in the skin, called café-au-lait spots.
    
     

• Types of Scoliosis - Idiopathic

  The cause of this type of scoliosis is unknown. There are three types of idiopathic scoliosis:
   

  • infantile - occurs from birth to 3 years of age. The curve of the vertebrae is to the left and it is more commonly seen in boys. Typically, the curve resolves as the child grows.

  • juvenile - occurs in children from 3 to 9 years of age.
     

  • adolescent - occurs in children from 10 to 18 years of age. This is the most common type of scoliosis and is more commonly seen in girls.

  Types of scoliosis by location

  When some people speak of a type of scoliosis they are referring the the location of the curve. There are two major location areas, lumbar and thoracic. Below is an example of the two types.