Orthopaedic Surgery
About Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal condition that primarily affects children and adolescents, in which there is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, causing the spinal column to bend to the left or right. Whereas most people's spines have the appearance of a straight line, when viewed from directly behind the person, the spine of someone with scoliosis more closely resembles the letter S or C, because of the abnormal curvature. The name is derived from the Greek word 'skoliosis', which means 'crookedness.' Scoliosis is actually relatively common compared to other musculoskeletal diseases, affecting approximately 3% of the population. The condition has affected children for thousands of years, and was described in even the earliest medical histories.
