18 January 2000 - Press Release

The following press release was sent out as part of the Scoliosis in Babies campaign.

Scoliosis in Babies

Spinal curvatures (scoliosis) occur in infants for no known reason. While some of these curvatures will go away without treatment, others will increase rapidly to produce a severe and permanent deformity. It is therefore very important to find out quickly which type of curve is present. If treatment is given at the earliest possible moment even the increasing curvatures can be helped to grow straight permanently.

To find out which curves are likely to resolve spontaneously and which will get worse, the baby should be X-rayed without delay. The angle of the ribs to the vertebra at the centre of the curve is the key. A second X-ray should be taken 2 months later to confirm the diagnosis.

The Scoliosis Association (UK), the only national support group for scoliosis, in association with ARISE, the Scoliosis Research Trust, has produced a Scoliosis in Infants poster which is being distributed to all Primary Care Groups in the UK. It is important that the message reaches doctors and all health professionals concerned with infants.

Parents also need to be alerted since it is often they who notice that their baby always lies curved to one side. They may feel a bulge on one side of his back or chest. These are early signs of scoliosis.

If the curve in these babies is treated early the outlook is good because in the first year of life babies' bones are very flexible and the spine can be corrected and grow straight. If neglected, however, a progressive scoliosis will get worse all the time the child is growing and this could mean years of hospital visits and quite likely major spinal surgery in adolescence. In every way a more difficult and more expensive solution.

For further information please contact Pauline Grey, Information Officer, Tel: 020 8964 5343