If your child has scoliosis, the recommended treatment will depend on their age, how severe the curve is, and if it's getting worse.
Many children will not need treatment. Only a small number end up having surgery.
There is a separate page about treatments for scoliosis in adults.
Treatment options
The main treatment options for children with scoliosis are:
- monitoring
- wearing a cast
- back braces
- surgery
For children with moderate scoliosis (curves between 25-45 degrees), a brace or cast can be used to guide the spine’s growth.
This aims to prevent the curve from getting worse. This treatment is most effective while your child is still growing.
Monitoring
Treatment is not always needed for very young children. This is because their spine may straighten as they grow.
In mild cases, your orthopaedic consultant may recommend monitoring the curve. They'll do this through regular check-ups and x-rays.
If the curve does not correct itself, there's a small risk it could reduce the space for the organs to grow. This is why careful monitoring by a specialist is important.
Regular monitoring may also be recommended for older children with mild scoliosis. This is to check if it's getting worse and if treatment is needed.
Wearing a cast
In babies and toddlers, treatment may be needed to try to help correct the spine as it grows.
This may involve wearing a plaster cast fitted around their back.
The cast is worn at all times and cannot be removed. But it's changed every few months as your child grows.
Parents often find it easier for their child to wear a cast while they're still very young. This is instead of a removable back brace that they wear every day.
A removable back brace may be recommended for older children.
The cast may be put in place while your child is asleep under general anaesthetic. This is because it can be hard for small children to stay still for a long period.
Back braces
If the curve of your child's spine is getting worse, your specialist may recommend they wear a back brace while they're growing.
This will not correct the curve, but might help stop it getting worse. Experts are still unsure about how well braces work. This means they are not recommended by all scoliosis specialists.
The brace:
- will be custom-made to fit your child's body
- will normally be made of rigid plastic, although flexible braces are sometimes available
- is designed to be difficult to see under loose-fitting clothing
- usually needs to be worn for 23 hours a day
- should not interfere with most everyday activities - it normally only needs to be removed for baths, showers, swimming and contact sports
Your child will usually have to wear the brace for as long as they're growing.
Surgery
Surgery may be recommended if your child's scoliosis continues to get worse despite trying other treatments. Your child may also need surgery if they have severe scoliosis.
The type of surgery offered will depend on your child's age.
Exercise and other therapies
Regular exercise is important for children with scoliosis. It can help improve muscle strength and may help reduce any back pain.
Children with scoliosis can usually do most types of exercise. They only need to avoid certain activities if a specialist says so.
It's not yet clear if specific back exercises or physiotherapy can help improve scoliosis. They're not recommended by all specialists.
There's not enough evidence to show if other therapies, such as osteopathy and chiropractic care, can help.