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What are congenital spine deformities?
These disorders are defined as abnormal vertebral development occurring prior to birth. These malformations may be classified in several ways including the area of the spine involved (cervical/neck, thoracic/mid back or lumbar/low back), the pattern of the deformity (scoliosis, kyphosis or lordosis) or the type of abnormal development.
Failures of a portion of the spine to divide into separate vertebrae or incomplete formation of the vertebrae are two major types of congenital spine deformities.
What causes these disorders?
Most deformities have no known cause and are called idiopathic. In rare cases it is an inherited disorder.
How are these deformities detected?
These disorders are often discovered when an x-ray is taken for other health concerns. Deformity may also be discovered because the patient has a head tilt, uneven shoulders, an uneven waistline or shoulders not centered above the pelvis.
How are congenital spine deformities treated?
Treatment depends on the kind of deformity, the severity of the disorder, the age of the patient and the potential for the deformity to worsen. Treatment includes observation for cure progression, bracing to slow curve progression or surgery (spinal fusion) to stop curve progression.
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