Scoliosis Specialists in New York | Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care

Scoliosis Specialists in New York City

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that can be present at birth or develop later in childhood, often during adolescence. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but the condition can worsen over time, especially during growth spurts that occur during adolescence. Scoliosis tends to runs in families, and girls are more likely than boys to be diagnosed with it.

What is Scoliosis?

A healthy spine has a natural front-to-back curve, but in a patient with scoliosis a portion of the spine curves sideways, causing uneven distribution of weight and stress on the spine, which can become disabling and disfiguring.

The abnormal curve of the spine caused by scoliosis is usually S- or C-shaped, and the severity of the curve is measured in degrees. The larger the degree and the younger the patient, the more likely the scoliosis will get worse and need treatment from a scoliosis doctor in New York. The four pattern types of scoliosis are named for their location within the spine: thoracic, lumbar, thoracolumbar, or multiple curves.

physical therapist holding man's middle back

What Causes Scoliosis?

Most cases of scoliosis have no known cause. Sometimes the causes can be congenital or neuromuscular. Congenital scoliosis is a birth defect in which the spine develops abnormally in the womb and can be identified at an early age. Neuromuscular scoliosis is scoliosis caused by disorders such as cerebral palsy, spinal cord trauma, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, and spina bifida. These cases are often severe and require surgery. Adolescent scoliosis refers to a spinal curve that develops in younger children with no known cause. In some cases, no scoliosis treatments are necessary. Progression of adolescent scoliosis usually stops or slows after the child stops growing, but in some cases, ongoing medical surveillance may be necessary.

New York’s Scoliosis Doctors

Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care in New York provides the full range of scoliosis treatments. Contact us to learn more about our advanced treatment options or to find an experienced scoliosis doctor in New York.