Missed Scoliosis
It is important for scoliosis to be diagnosed and treated when it first arrives, as this can help halt the progression of the condition.
If scoliosis is repeatedly missed by medical practitioners, causing the patient to develop a severe curvature, there could be a case of medical negligence.
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. In 80% of cases it is not known why it happens. In some patients scoliosis is a side-effect of another condition such as Marfan Syndrome or cerebral palsy.
Scoliosis is most likely to develop between the ages of 10 and 15. However, it can affect children younger than 10, and can even appear in newborn babies due to development problems. Scoliosis can also arise during adulthood, usually due to effects of ageing.
Diagnosing scoliosis
Scoliosis causes a visible curvature of the spine, along with some discomfort or pain. Other signs include a prominent rib cage, one shoulder being higher than the other, one leg being longer than the other, and one hip sticking out more than the other.
An adult or child with these symptoms should attend their GP. If their GP believes there are signs of a scoliotic spine, the patient should be referred to an orthopaedic specialist for further examinations. An x-ray will help to confirm a diagnosis.
Treating scoliosis
The treatment for scoliosis depends entirely upon the patient's age and the severity of their condition.
Children with a mildly scoliotic spine can initially be observed as the condition can correct itself with time. If it does not correct itself, or there is already significant curvature, medical intervention will be required. Young children can have a cast applied to their lower back, while older children can have a brace.
These treatments cannot cure scoliosis, but they are very important as they can halt the progression of the condition. This means the curvature of the spine will not deteriorate as quickly as it would without the treatment.
Adults with scoliosis are not ordinarily fitted with a brace. Instead treatment is aimed at managing the condition with pain relief and exercise. If the curvature of the spine is very painful or starts to impinge on nerves, surgery may be required.
Failing to spot scoliosis in a child
If medical practitioners fail to spot scoliosis, it will mean the condition is left untreated, causing it to get progressively worse. This is particularly true in children where treatment can help to stall the curvature of the spine.
If your scoliosis was missed as a child and you now have a severely scoliotic spine, you could be the victim of medical negligence. Please get in touch with us to find out more.
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