Neuromuscular Scoliosis

WHAT IS NEURO
MUSCULAR SCOLIOSIS?

Children and adolescents who have a brain, spinal cord, and muscular system medical condition such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy may also suffer from neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS).

Not all children with neuromuscular conditions develop NMS, but it is quite common — especially in children who are wheelchair-bound.

Because of their medical conditions, their nerves and muscles aren’t able to support the appropriate balance and alignment of the spine and trunk. Eventually, the entire spine curves into a long “S” or “C” shape. NMS curves also progress more rapidly and may continue to worsen into adulthood.

Symptoms

Symptoms of neuromuscular scoliosis can include:

Uneven shoulder heights
Leaning or uneven seating posture
Uses arms for seating support
Head is off-center from the rest of the body
Uneven hips or buttocks
Uneven shoulder blades
Arms hang unevenly

Treatment

Because children with NMS also have medical issues that need to be addressed, treatment typically involves a multidisciplinary approach. Your treatment team will include physicians and healthcare professionals from different medical specialty areas who will coordinate care to help ensure maximized treatment.

Treatment for NMS will depend on your child’s age and underlying condition, as well as the type and severity of the spinal curve.

Surgical

In many cases where the cure is severe, surgery is recommended to correct the curvature and stabilize the spine. The goal of surgery is to:

Stabilize the spine and stop progression
Increase sitting tolerance if the patient is in a wheelchair, or improved walking capability
Reduce pain
Improve lung functioning

Nonsurgical

Nonsurgical treatments won’t prevent your child’s curve from worsening, but they may delay the progressing and improve quality of life. These can include: