A spinal deformity is when there’s an unnatural curvature in the spine, either side-to-side or front-to-back.
When viewed from the side, the normal human spine has three natural curves. The lumbar spine (lower back) curves gently inward, the thoracic spine (mid-back) curves outward, and the cervical spine (neck) also curves gently inward. When viewed from the back, the normal spine is straight and centered over the pelvis.
With a spinal deformity, however, these curves can be exaggerated, causing symptoms that include pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling that travels down arms or legs. The main types of spine curvature disorders are:
- Kyphosis: Excessive forward curvature of the spine. An abnormally rounded upper back is sometimes called a dowager’s hump or hunchback. Chin-on-chest syndrome, also called head ptosis, is when the neck and upper back kyphosis is so severe that the chin drops to the chest.
- Lordosis: When the spine curves significantly inward at the lower back; also called swayback
- Scoliosis: A side-to-side S- or C-shaped curvature of the spine when viewed from the back. While often seen in childhood, adult-onset scoliosis can occur in people in their late 50s through 70s as vertebrae and disks deteriorate with age.
- Flatback syndrome: When the spine loses its natural curves
Spinal deformities can occur in children and adults. They can be congenital (present at birth), or they can result from a range of causes including injury, degenerative changes in the spine related to age, failed surgery, poor posture, genetics, or conditions such as arthritis or osteoporosis.
Treatment depends on the severity and type of spinal curvature you or your child may have. Fortunately, many conditions can be treated non-surgically with physical therapy and back bracing, while more severe spinal curvature may require surgery.
Because spinal deformity is a complex problem that requires extensive expertise to accurately diagnose and appropriately treat, it’s important to see an orthopaedic specialist who is experienced in managing these conditions.
Why Choose Cooper to Treat Spinal Deformity in Children and Adults
Cooper University Health Care has a team of fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopaedic surgeons with extensive experience in diagnosing and treating spinal deformities in adults and children. You can count on us for:
- Unparalleled clinical expertise: Our specialists excel at diagnosing and treating patients of all ages with spinal deformities. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has named Cooper a Blue Distinction® Center for Spine Surgery, recognizing our clinical expertise and excellent care.
- The region’s only facility to treat pediatric spinal deformity: Cooper is the only hospital in South Jersey to treat children with these conditions
- Low-dose imaging: We use low dose-imaging to minimize radiation exposure during scoliosis monitoring, which is particularly important to young patients who are watched closely throughout their lifetimes
- A full range of treatment options: We offer patients comprehensive treatment options, including nonsurgical solutions. When surgery is necessary, we emphasize minimally invasive approaches that promote faster recovery and reduced pain.
- Advanced technology: Our operating rooms are equipped with sophisticated technologies, including advanced imaging that guides doctors during intricate surgeries and minimally invasive instruments that allow for smaller incisions
Causes and Risk Factors for Spinal Deformity
There are numerous health problems that can cause the spine to curve more than normal or be out of alignment, including:
- Achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism
- Arthritis of the spine
- Birth defects
- Discitis, inflammation of the disk space between the bones of the spine
- Genetics (scoliosis tends to run in families)
- Obesity
- Osteoporosis, a condition in which vertebrae become brittle, fragile and easily broken, causing compression fractures in the spine
- Poor posture or slouching
- Scheuermann's disease, a condition that causes vertebrae to be misshapen
- Spina bifida, a birth defect in which the spinal column doesn’t close completely during fetal development
- Spinal instability as a result of failed spinal fusion or spinal nerve decompression surgery
- Spinal tumors
- Spine infections
- Spondylolisthesis, a condition in which a vertebra, usually in the lower back, slips forward over the vertebra beneath it
Symptoms of Spinal Deformity
Symptoms of spinal deformity vary based on the type of spinal curvature and how severe the condition is. Many symptoms are visual.
- Kyphosis symptoms may include:
- Bending forward of the head compared to the rest of the body
- Hump or curve to the upper back
- Back and/or neck pain
- Back stiffness
- Muscle fatigue in the back or legs
- Lordosis symptoms may include:
- A large inward arch of the lower back that gives a swayback appearance
- A large gap between your lower back and the floor when lying on your back; this gap does not change when you bend forward
- Back pain and discomfort
- Scoliosis symptoms may include:
- Uneven shoulder blades, with one higher than the other
- An uneven waist or hips
- Leaning to one side
- Ill-fitting clothes due to the body being out of alignment
- Muscle spasms
- Back pain
- Flatback symptoms may include:
- Difficulty standing upright
- A sensation of falling forward
- Chronic pain in the back muscles
- Muscle fatigue
Treating Spinal Deformity
Treatment for spinal deformity depends on the specific condition and its cause, how severe the condition is, and the patient’s overall health. The options for treating spinal deformities include:
- Observation and repeated exams to determine if the spine is continuing to curve (used when a young scoliosis patient has a curve of less than 25° and is still growing)
- Physical therapy to strengthen core and back muscles and improve range of motion, balance and posture
- Conservative measures such as ice and heat, and anti-inflammatory medication to manage pain
- Bracing to halt progression of a curve or reduce the degree of a curve in patients with scoliosis or kyphosis, particularly younger patients who are still growing
- Independent exercise such as yoga, Pilates and swimming can help strengthen core muscles and help support the spine
- Surgery generally is recommended only if physical therapy and conservative measures aren’t successful, your condition is severely advanced when you are first seen, you are experiencing muscle weakness, or you have bladder, bowel or other serious dysfunction due to nerve damage.
- Many spine surgeries can be performed with minimally invasive techniques that make recovery faster and less painful
Contact Us
To learn more about the services available for treating spinal deformity at Cooper or to request an appointment, please call 800.8.COOPER (800.826.6737).
Refer a Patient
If you are a doctor who wants to refer a patient to Cooper for spinal deformity care, please call 800.826.6737.