Disease
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
SCOLIOSIS
Scoliosis is a very common spinal disease with over three million cases per year in the U.S. It is a bend or twist of the vertebral column, causing the back and spine to contort in an "S" like way. The disease typically develop over time, so one may not have it from birth. It is most common to develop during a large growth spirt just before puberty. Often the cases are minor, but sometimes they can be disabling without treatment. Severe cases can threaten vital organs, and these cases could turn deadly without treatment.
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DIAGNOSIS
In order for a doctor to diagnose scoliosis they must perform a physical examination of the rib cage and vertebral column. You will be asked to bend over to see if anything is prominently protruding from you back.
Effects
This disease causes the back to contort in severe cases. That limits ease of movement. In very severe cases the spine could bend so much it causes the ribs to puncture or injure vital organs. That could turn deadly very fast. Most of the time though, you won't really notice it.
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SYMPTOMS
1. One shoulder is higher than the other
2. One shoulder blade sticks out more than the other
3. One side of the rib cage appears higher than the other
4. One hip appears higher or more prominent than the other
5. The waist line appears uneven
6. The body tilts to one side
7. One leg may appear shorter than the other
Causes
1. Neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy
2. Birth defects affecting the development of the bones of the spine
3. Injuries to or infections of the spine
TREATMENT
There is no cure, so once you have the condition, you have it for life, but most cases are not severe. For severe cases there are treatments. A brace can be used to lessen the effects and strain on your body. More extremely, bone grafting and fusion surgeries are used to correct the spine.
PROGNOSIS
The likelihood of death is slim to none, and the likelihood of a severe case is also minuscule. However, it is extremely common to have this disease in some form.
Prevention
Most cases exist at birth even if there are no symptoms. However, to lessen your chances of getting it, stretch and exercise frequently.
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