Editing Scoliosis (section)

==Signs and symptoms==
[[File:Braus 1921 84.png|thumb|upright|A 20th-century illustration of a severe case of an S-shaped scoliosis]]
Symptoms associated with scoliosis can include:
* Pain in the back at the site of the curve, which may radiate to the legs.<ref>{{cite journal |last= Aebi |first= Max |date= 2005 |title= The Adult Scoliosis |url= https://doc.rero.ch/record/321519/files/586_2005_Article_1053.pdf |journal= European Spine Journal |volume= 14 |issue= 10 |pages= 925–948 |doi= 10.1007/s00586-005-1053-9 |pmid= 16328223 |s2cid= 22119278 |access-date= 2022-12-21}}</ref> Chest pain at the ribs and sternum location can sometimes be linked to scoliosis of the spine because the ribs wrap around to the chest area which can be misaligned. This can lead to injury, pain and swelling which can turn up on medical imaging (CT scans etc.).{{medical citation needed|date=March 2025}}
* Respiratory or cardiac problems in severe cases<ref name= Alf>{{cite journal |last= Nachemson |first= Alf |date= 1968 |title= A Long Term Follow-up Study of Non-treated Scoliosis |url= https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/17453676808989664 |journal= Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica |volume= 39 |issue= 4 |pages= 466–476 |doi= 10.3109/17453676808989664 |pmid= 5726117 |access-date= 2022-12-21}}</ref>
* Constipation due to curvature causing "tightening" of the stomach, intestines, etc.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://spineina.com/blog/how-scoliosis-affects-the-body/#:~:text=Digestive%20systems%3A%20By%20compressing%20the,cause%20nausea%20for%20some%20patients |title= How Scoliosis Affects the Body |last= Yanner |first= Baher S. |date= 2021-12-17 |website= spineina.com |publisher= Spine Institute of North America |access-date= 2023-01-08}}</ref>

The signs of scoliosis can include:
* Uneven musculature on one side of the spine<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.scoliosissos.com/blog/scoliosis-weak-side#:~:text=The%20condition%20known%20as%20scoliosis,those%20on%20the%20other%20side. |title= Muscular Imbalance: Why Does Scoliosis Create One Weak Side? |date= 2017-08-28 |website= www.scoliosissos.com |publisher= Scoliosis SOS Clinic |access-date= 2023-01-10}}</ref>
* Rib prominence or a prominent [[shoulder blade]], caused by rotation of the rib cage in [[human thorax|thoracic]] scoliosis<ref name= Zabjek/>
* Uneven posture<ref name= Zabjek>{{cite journal |last1= Coillard |first1= Christine |last2= Leroux |first2= Michel A. |last3= Prince |first3= François |last4= Rivard |first4= Charles H. |last5= Zabjek |first5= Karl Franc |date= 2008 |title= Postural Characteristics of Adolescents With Idiopathic Scoliosis |url= https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5463283 |journal= Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics |volume= 28 |issue= 2 |pages= 218–224 |doi= 10.1097/BPO.0b013e3181651bdc |pmid= 18388718 |s2cid= 34046217 |access-date= 2023-01-08}}</ref>
* Heart and lung problems in severe cases<ref name= Alf />
* Calcium deposits in the cartilage endplate and sometimes in the disc itself<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Giachelli CM | title = Ectopic calcification: gathering hard facts about soft tissue mineralization | journal = The American Journal of Pathology | volume = 154 | issue = 3 | pages = 671–675 | date = March 1999 | pmid = 10079244 | pmc = 1866412 | doi = 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)65313-8 }}</ref>

===Course===
People who have reached skeletal maturity are less likely to have a worsening case.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Thometz JG, Simon SR | title = Progression of scoliosis after skeletal maturity in institutionalized adults who have cerebral palsy | journal = The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume | volume = 70 | issue = 9 | pages = 1290–1296 | date = October 1988 | pmid = 3182881 | doi = 10.2106/00004623-198870090-00002 }}</ref> Some severe cases of scoliosis can lead to diminishing lung capacity, pressure exerted on the heart, and restricted physical activities.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Koumbourlis AC | title = Scoliosis and the respiratory system | journal = Paediatric Respiratory Reviews | volume = 7 | issue = 2 | pages = 152–160 | date = June 2006 | pmid = 16765303 | doi = 10.1016/j.prrv.2006.04.009 }}</ref>

[[Longitudinal studies]] have revealed that the most common form of the condition, late-onset idiopathic scoliosis, causes little physical impairment other than back pain and cosmetic concerns, even when untreated, with mortality rates similar to the general population.<ref name="jama.ama-assn.org"/><ref name="jbjs.org"/> Older beliefs that untreated idiopathic scoliosis necessarily progressed into severe (cardiopulmonary) disability by old age have been refuted.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Trobisch P, Suess O, Schwab F | title = Idiopathic scoliosis | journal = Deutsches Ärzteblatt International | volume = 107 | issue = 49 | pages = 875–83; quiz 884 | date = December 2010 | pmid = 21191550 | pmc = 3011182 | doi = 10.3238/arztebl.2010.0875 | quote = It was once assumed, on the basis of studies in heterogeneous patient populations, that patients with untreated adolescent scoliosis would necessarily become wheelchair-dependent in old age and were likely to die of cardiopulmonary arrest for reasons related to scoliosis. This is no longer held to be the case. }}</ref>