A risk factor is something that raises a person's chances of getting a disease or health problem. A person can have scoliosis with or without the risks below. The more risks a person has, the greater the chances are.
A number of health problems raise the risk, such as:
- Turner syndrome
- Neurofibromatosis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Polio
- Cerebral palsy
- Marfan syndrome
- Friedreich ataxia
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Spina bifida
- Myelomeningocele
- Syringomyelia
The adolescent form of scoliosis is the most common. It starts in children over the age of 10, and often lasts until growth stops.
Mild curves affect boys and girls equally. But girls are more likely to have curves that will need to be treated.
The risk of scoliosis is higher in those who have family member with it.
References
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/adolescent-idiopathic-scoliosis. Accessed May 12, 2022.
Congenital scoliosis and kyphosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/congenital-scoliosis-and-kyphosis. Accessed May 12, 2022.
Idiopathic scoliosis in children and adolescents. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons website. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/idiopathic-scoliosis-in-children-and-adolescents. Accessed May 12, 2022.
Infantile and juvenile idiopathic scoliosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/infantile-and-juvenile-idiopathic-scoliosis. Accessed May 12, 2022.
Pettersson K, Wagner P, et al. Development of a risk score for scoliosis in children with cerebral palsy. Acta Orthop. 2020;91(2):203-208.
Scoliosis in children and teens. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/scoliosis. Accessed May 12, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
- Update Date: 05/12/2022