According to the Scoliosis Foundation of Australia one in 10 people will have scoliosis, but only up to three in 1,000 will need treatment. So what exactly is scoliosis, who does it affect and what are some of the treatments for it?

Scoliosis is a condition in which there is a sideways curve of the spine, or backbone. Curves are often S-shaped or C-shaped. In most people, there is no known cause for this curve. This is known as “idiopathic” scoliosis.

People with milder curves may only need to visit their doctor for periodic examinations. Some people who have scoliosis need treatment.

It is estimated that People of all ages can have scoliosis. The most common type is idiopathic scoliosis in children age 10 to 12 and in their early teens. This is the time when children are growing fast. Girls are more likely than boys to have this type of scoliosis.

Scoliosis can run in families. A child who has a parent, brother, or sister with idiopathic scoliosis should have regular checkups by the family doctor.

In most people with scoliosis, the cause is not known. In some cases, there is a known cause.

Doctors generally classify curves as:

• Nonstructural, which is when the spine is structurally normal and the curve is temporary. In these cases, the doctor will try to find and correct the cause. 
• Structural, which is when the spine has a fixed curve. The cause could be a disease, injury, infection, or birth defect.

Doctors use a medical and family history, physical examination, and tests when checking a person for scoliosis. An x ray of the spine can help the doctor decide if a person has scoliosis. The x ray lets the doctor measure the curve in degrees (such as 25 degrees) and see its location, shape, and pattern.

Treatment for scoliosis is generally based on:

• The person's age
• How much more he or she is likely to grow
• The degree and pattern of the curve
• The type of scoliosis.

The doctor may generally recommend observation, bracing, or surgery.

The doctor will check every 4 to 6 months to see if the curve is getting better or worse. Observation is used for those who have a curve of less than 25 degrees and are still growing.

Doctors may advise wearing a brace to stop a curve from getting worse. Bracing may be used when:

• The person is still growing and has a curve of more than 25 to 30 degrees.
• The person is still growing and has a curve between 20 and 29 degrees that is getting worse.
• The person has at least 2 years of growth remaining and has a curve that is between 20 and 29 degrees. If a girl, she should not have started having her monthly periods yet.

Doctors use surgery to correct a curve or stop it from getting worse when the person is still growing, the curve is more than 45 degrees, and the curve is getting worse. Surgery often involves fusing together two or more bones in the spine. The doctor may also put in a metal rod or other device. These devices are called implants. They stay in the body and help keep the spine straight after surgery.

There is a technique currently being evaluated in the USA and some Australian surgeons called stapling.  It is in its early stages of trialling and is available in Australia. The treatment involves staples being inserted into the spine across the vertebrae to try to hold them in position during growth and may be seen, in some cases, as an alternative to a brace.