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Health Information

The treatment and management of scoliosis involves bracing or surgery. Scoliosis is monitored regularly and carefully to evaluate progression of the curvature. Treatment is usually reserved for curvatures greater than 20°, while surgery is usually recommended for curvatures greater than 45º-50°.

The goals of treatment for scoliosis include:

  • Good cosmetic outcome
  • Avoidance of complications in adulthood, such as lung disease due to restriction of a deformed chest cavity

Treatment involves the following:

SurgeryOther treatments—Braces

At this time, there are no medications for the treatment of scoliosis.

Revision Information

  • Reviewer: Kari Kassir, MD
  • Review Date: 09/2012 -
  • Update Date: 00/92/2012 -
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.aaos.org/ .

  • Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics . 10th ed. Mosby; 2003.

  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/.website . Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/.

  • Scoliosis Research Society website. Available at: http://www.srs.org/ .