Exam 2 Scoliosis Part 1

Question 1

T/F: Scoliosis affects 5 to 7 million people worldwide.

Answer 1

False; 5-7 million in US alone

Question 2

While scoliosis can begin at any age, when is it most likely to develop?

Answer 2

between the ages of 10-15

Question 3

Who is more affected by scoliosis, girls or boys?

Answer 3

girls

Question 4

T/F: Scoliosis can be inherited, so kids whose parents or siblings have it should be evaluated as well.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

T/F: lateral curves of less than 10 degrees are considered scoliosis.

Answer 5

False; often just postural changes when less than 10 degrees

Question 6

If a lateral curve is greater than 10 degrees and accompanied by vertebral rotation, what is it called?

Answer 6

scoliosis

Question 7

How often is scoliosis idiopathic?

Answer 7

more than 80% of the time

Question 8

Which type of scoliosis is often caused by some postural problem, muscle spasm, or leg-length inequality, functional or structural?

Answer 8

functional scoliosis, which can be addressed

Question 9

Which type of scoliosis does not reduce with postural maneuvers, functional or structural?

Answer 9

structural scoliosis (bony distortion)

Question 10

T/F: Both structural and functional scoliosis can be idiopathic or have a clear underlying cause.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

What are the 3 most common secondary causes for scoliosis?

Answer 11

inherited connective tissue disorders,
neurologic disorders,
and musculoskeletal disorders

Question 12

T/F: 80% of people with scoliosis have curves of less than 15 degrees, which are usually not detectable to the untrained eye.

Answer 12

False; less than 20 degrees

Question 13

T/F: In growing children and adolescents, mild curvatures can worsen quite rapidly by 10 degrees or more in only a few months.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

T/F: Idiopathic scoliosis is present in 2-4% of kids aged 10-16.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

T/F: There are just as many boys with small curves (less than 10 degrees) as girls.

Answer 15

True, but when the curves are greater than 30 degrees the ratio is 10:1 (girls)

Question 16

Who is more likely to have their scoliosis progress and to require treatment, boys or girls?

Answer 16

girls, especially before their first menstrual period, even more in the 12 months before their 1st period

Question 17

T/F: the greater the scoliotic curve, the greater the risk for the curve to increase.

Answer 17

True

Question 18

T/F: A person with a scoliosis curve of 10 -19 degrees is at a very high risk for curve progression.

Answer 18

False; they are at a low to moderate risk (slide 9)

Question 19

T/F: A person with a curve of greater than 29 degrees is at a very high risk for curve progression.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

T/F: Patients with scoliosis typically have a significantly higher amount of back pain.

Answer 20

False

Question 21

T/F: Curves in untreated adolescents with curves less than 30 degrees at time of bony maturity are unlikely to progress.

Answer 21

True

Question 22

T/F: Curves greater than 50 degrees at maturity progress 1 degree per year.

Answer 22

True

Question 23

T/F: Up to 19% of females with curves greater than 40 degrees have significant psychological illness.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

How great does the scoliotic curve have to be before life-threatening effects take place on pulmonary function?

Answer 24

greater than 100 degrees

Question 25

What is the most common treatment option for scoliosis?

Answer 25

careful observation

Question 26

In addition to careful observation, what other treatments are common for scoliosis?

Answer 26

bracing, surgery, and chiropractic adjustments

Question 27

How bad does the curve typically have to be for surgery to be recommended?

Answer 27

greater than 45 degrees

Question 28

When is bracing recommended for patients with scoliosis?

Answer 28

When patients have not reached skeletal maturity and have curves between 25-45 degrees

Question 29

T/F: Chiropractic adjustments alone have NOT been shown to consistently reduce scoliosis.

Answer 29

True, exercises in addition to adjustments may be of help

Question 30

T/F: According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, there is "insufficient evidence" to recommend for or against routine screening of asymptomatic adolescents for idiopathic scoliosis.

Answer 30

True

Question 31

Who recommends more adolescent screenings, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons or the American Academy of Pediactrics?

Answer 31

Pediatrics

Question 32

What is the name of the test where the patient is asked to lean forward with his or her feet together and bend 90 degrees at the waist?

Answer 32

Adam's forward bend test

Question 33

T/F: during Adam's forward bend test, the examiner can easily view ANY asymmetry of the trunk or any abnormal spinal curvatures.

Answer 33

True