John Hunter Children’s Hospital has orthopaedic surgeons who specialise in paediatric spinal surgery.

The hospital accepts and treats children with acute injuries to the vertebral column that do not involve significant permanent damage to the spinal cord.

Children with spinal cord injuries are transferred to the Royal North Shore Spinal Unit or Westmead Children’s Hospital for treatment and rehabilitation.

Spinal Disorders – Fact Sheets and Useful Links

Ankylosing spondylitis

Scoliosis

Spina bifida

Spina bifida and physical activity

Spinal cord injury general web site

Spinal cord injury and motor accident authority information

Spinal cord injury service at Westmead Children’s Hospital

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a sideways (lateral) curve of the spine, usually developing in early adolescence. About 80% of scoliosis is idiopathic which means that the cause is unknown.

1 to 2 of every 100 people has scoliosis. About 2 to 3 of every 1,000 people will need treatment for progressive scoliosis. One of every 1,000 people requires surgery.

Scoliosis tends to run in families and although boys and girls are affected the same at the onset, girls are more likely to have curves that continue to worsen and require treatment.

Spinal curvature is best dealt with when the body is still growing and can best respond to treatment such as a brace. Mild cases may only require monitoring by your doctor and no bracing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have to wear a brace?
Scoliosis may rapidly worsen during growth if the curve is over 25 degrees. The purpose of bracing is to keep the curve from progressing (worsening) as the child grows. A brace may not correct the curve permanently, but it may prevent it from increasing.

How long do I have to wear the brace?
The brace needs to be worn 23 hours each day until the team determines that the patient has reached skeletal maturity. At that point, you might be switched to wearing the brace at night only. The patient is slowly weaned from the brace when it is deemed appropriate.

What results can we expect?
About 4 out of 5 growing patients (i.e. 80%) will have a satisfactory result. This means that their curve will not significantly increase. About 1 of 5 (i.e. 20%) will have some increase. There is no way to predict which patients will have the better results. Occasionally, surgery will be needed.

Are there any other options?
Bracing and surgical correction are the only options which have been proven to be effective in scientific studies. There are no equally effective treatments. Exercise, by itself, is not a treatment for scoliosis. It cannot stop a curve from worsening.

More information about scoliosis can be found on the Internet. If you need further information regarding your child’s management, please contact your physiotherapist or specialist doctor.

Scoliosis Related Links

Scoliosis