Scoliosis Research Paper

Idiopathic Scoliosis The spine is one of the most important structures of the human body. The spine serves various purposes. It consists of about thirty- three separate bones called the vertebrae which come from the Latin word “to turn”. The Spine which is also known as the vertebra supports our weight, holds us in a vertical position and supports our body movements. The vertebra plays an important function by protecting the spinal cord and nerves as they connect to all the other parts of the human body. There are four separate curves in a normal spine. Each curve contains a separate set of vertebrae. Located in the very top of the spine are called the cervical vertebrae. The next vertebrae are called the thoracic vertebrae which are found
However, the majority of cases in scoliosis are unknown. The term for this is called the idiopathic scoliosis. There are three separate forms based on the age of the person at the start of the curvature. The first form is the infantile form which is birth to three years old. The second form is the juvenile form which is four to ten years old scoliosis. Heredity may influence this condition and both genders share equally in the likelihood of getting this condition. Lastly, the adolescent form is ten to thirteen years old which is the most common form. Females are more three times more likely to be affected than
“The most common, and generally considered the safest, method is the Harrington rod technique. The incision is from the back (as opposed to front or side entries), and metal hooks are inserted at the highest and lowest points in the curve. These hooks hold metal rods used to straighten the spine and then to hold it in place. Small chips of bone are then taken from the hip or ribs and inserted between especially prepared vertebrae. In a period of six to eight months, solid bone will grow and fuse the vertebrae, giving a solid bone mass of a single elongated vertebra. After the surgery, the patient is usually placed in a brace or cast for four to six