A scoliosis diagnosis can feel overwhelming—there’s suddenly a lot of new information to absorb, from imaging results to treatment choices. But staying informed is the best way to protect your child’s growing spine. Below, you’ll find everything parents should understand about what to know about monitoring scoliosis, from spotting early signs to deciding when it’s time for surgical intervention.
What Is Scoliosis and How Does It Affect Children?
Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine measuring ≥10° on an X-ray. The most common type—adolescent idiopathic scoliosis—appears during the pre-teen growth spurt and has no clear cause. Other types of scoliosis include:
- Congenital scoliosis – curves caused by malformed vertebrae present at birth
- Neuromuscular scoliosis – linked to muscle imbalance disorders like cerebral palsy
- Degenerative scoliosis – adult-onset curves from disc and joint wear
While mild curves under 25° often stay cosmetic, unchecked curve progression can twist the rib cage, narrow lung capacity, and alter posture. That’s why timely scoliosis screening—in schools, pediatric checkups, or specialist clinics—is critical to keeping kids active and pain-free.
Early Signs of Scoliosis Every Parent Should Watch For
Because children rarely complain of pain early on, visual cues matter:
- Uneven shoulder or hip heights
- One scapula or rib prominence when bending forward (the classic “Adam’s test for scoliosis”)
- A tilted waistline or clothes hanging unevenly
- Subtle limp or torso lean while walking
Have a family history of scoliosis? Start watching as early as age 8, then repeat checks during every growth-spurt season.
How Pediatric Orthopedic Specialists Diagnose and Treat Scoliosis
When you visit a pediatric orthopedic specialist, the evaluation usually starts with a physical exam—most often the Adam’s forward-bend test combined with a scoliometer reading to gauge any trunk rotation. Next comes a standing X-ray, which measures the curve’s Cobb angle; a reading under about 25 degrees is typically considered mild, 25-to-40 degrees is often labeled moderate, and anything above 40 degrees is generally viewed as severe. Finally, the surgeon reviews growth indicators such as hand-bone (Risser) staging or, in girls, menarche status, because the likelihood of a curve worsening drops once a child is skeletally mature.
Those same benchmarks guide treatment. Curves below roughly 25 degrees in a growing child are usually just observed every six to twelve months, often with posture drills and core-strength physical therapy to keep muscles balanced. When a curve approaches the mid-20s or 30s and plenty of growth remains, a custom brace—worn most of the day—usually becomes the next step to slow or halt progression.
Techniques used in our practice today have allowed us to achieve a 96 percent success rate in treating scoliosis non-surgically—meaning nearly all of the patients who would have needed an operation 30 years ago now avoid surgery altogether through bracing, physical therapy, and other conservative treatment options.
Surgery may enter the discussion if a curve keeps edging toward 40 degrees—or begins to accelerate. The Pediatric Orthopedic Center uses the Rapid Recovery Pathway system when scoliosis surgery is indicated. By pairing custom-made spinal instruments with pre-emptive, non-opioid pain control (administered while your child is already under anesthesia) this approach has most patients up and walking the same day and back home in just two days, all while greatly reducing postoperative pain. Every procedure strictly follows the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) safety standards.
The Importance of Regular Monitoring and Checkups
Monitoring intervals vary depending on curve size and remaining growth:
- Mild curves (<25°) – X-ray every 12 months; more often during peak height velocity.
- Braced curves – Checkups every 3–6 months to verify fit and measure the angle.
- Post-op curves – Imaging at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, then annually.
Regular visits let your team adjust brace pads, update PT plans, or schedule imaging with ultra-low-dose EOSedge—limiting radiation while precisely tracking spinal curvature changes.
When to Seek Help from a Pediatric Orthopedic Center
Call a pediatric orthopedic spine specialist if:
- A school nurse or pediatrician detects a curve ≥10°.
- You notice new asymmetry, growth-spurt height jumps, or pain.
- The curve hits 25 degrees with growth remaining, or 40 degrees at any stage.
- You want second-opinion guidance on treatment options—from bracing tweaks to scoliosis surgery.
At The Pediatric Orthopedic Center, fellowship-trained surgeons blend research-backed protocols with family-centered care:
- Low-dose imaging that keeps kids safe during years of monitoring
- On-site orthotists for same-day brace modifications
- A rapid-recovery pathway for minimally invasive spinal fusion or tethering
- Seamless transition planning from pediatric to adult spine specialists
Ready to safeguard your child’s spine? Schedule an appointment at 973-538-7700 or request a visit online today.
