Girls are 4 times likely to suffer from Scoliosis.
For a few months, nine-year-old Preeti’s parents watched her walk tilted to one side with one side of her shoulder blade protruding. Her mother thought that it was a postural problem and tried ‘teaching’ her the right gait but as time passed, the problem grew more pronounced.
A consultation with an orthopedic doctor in one of the city’s private hospitals confirmed that the girl suffered from a spinal deformity called scoliosis. The girl had to go through a complicated surgery involving rods and hooks to put her spine’s curvature in place followed by three months of rest.
Doctors say that an increasing number of scoliosis cases are being detected in the city and in many cases a surgery at an early stage can fix the problem forever. In fact, the number of cases of spine deformity which are known to affect adolescents especially young girls are being detected with such frequency that it has prompted a city hospital to open a specialised weekly clinic for such cases.
Spine surgeon Dr Ketan Khurjekar, who would be heading the Scoliosis Clinic at Sancheti Hospital, said the clinic would run every Wednesday offering comprehensive management for the deformity.
“Nearly 3% of all adolescents today have some form of scoliosis and girls are four times likelier to have it. Most cases of scoliosis are idiopathic with the cause unknown and by the time the cause is known, most cases require surgery. However, if the cases are detected early, corrective measures like bracing, and wearing body moulded jackets can help prevent further deformity.
Such cases need an overall approach and at this clinic, besides spine surgeons, team of experts of physiotherapists, orthotic experts and psychologists would work together,” he said.
Echoing the view that scoliosis cases amongst adolescents were increasingly being detected, Dr Ramesh Ranka, a spine surgeon at Oyster and Pearl Hospital agreed that a multi disciplinary approach was needed to treat the deformity.
“It is the spine that helps hold the body upright. In scoliosis, the spine’s curvature is deformed.
Over time it could progress to such an extent that patients wouldn’t be able to balance and would have an awkward gait, posture etc. leading to both physical and psychological distress,” said Ranka.
While in 80% cases, scoliosis can be idiopathic but other reasons for deformity include cerebral palsy, polio, congenital spinal deformities, limb length deformity, genetic conditions, muscular dystrophy, neurofibromatosis, spina bifida, tumors etc.
Spine surgeons say increased awareness and treatment centres are helping in detecting cases early.
Dr Rajesh Parasnis said parents can notice the early symptoms. “There are many first indications like if both the shoulders are not at the same level, the fitting of clothes is abnormal, leg length discrepancy, an abnormal gait, rib cage bending forward and uneven hips,” he said.
Parasnis added that a surgery is needed only if the curvature is more than 40%.
Meanwhile Dr Khurjekar said that Sancheti hospital is contemplating on starting a scoliosis patients club where such patients can get together to share their experiences.
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