Neuromuscular scoliosis

Neuromuscular scoliosis
Disease Information

Overview

Patients come here from around the world for their scoliosis treatment. We're happy to be able to provide world-class care for them and for our local patients.

--Spinal Program Team, Department of Orthopedic Surgery

If your child has been diagnosed with neuromuscular scoliosis, we know that you and your family are under stress, and are already dealing with the underlying neuromuscular condition that’s associated with his scoliosis. So, at Children’s Hospital Boston, we’ll approach your child’s treatment with sensitivity and support—for your child and your whole family. And it will be our constant goal to maximize your child’s function, strength and quality of life.

You can have peace of mind knowing that the team in the Children’s Spinal Program has treated many children with spinal problems—some of which are so rare that few pediatric doctors have ever come across them—and we can offer you expert diagnosis, treatment and care.

About scoliosis

Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine—in addition to the normal front to back curvature—has an abnormal side-to-side “S-” or “C”-shaped curvature. The spine is also rotated or twisted, pulling the ribs along with it to form a multidimensional curve.

Scoliosis occurs, and is treated, as three main types:
neuromuscular scoliosis: associated with a neuromuscular condition such as cerebral palsy, myopathy or spina bifida

congenital scoliosis: present at birth, caused by a failure of the vertebrae to form normally—the least common form

idiopathic scoliosis: occurring with no definite cause

About neuromuscular scoliosis

Neuromuscular scoliosis is the form that’s associated with your child’s underlying nerve and/or muscular condition, which may be:
cerebral palsy
spina bifida
muscular dystrophy
paralysis from spinal cord injury
myopathy
poliomyelitis
spinal cord tumors
spinal muscular atrophy

These types of neuromuscular conditions cause muscles to become weak, spastic or paralyzed—and unable to support the spine, resulting in spinal curvatures.

The Children’s Hospital Boston approach

Children’s Spinal Program is known for clinical innovation, research and leadership. We’ll provide your child with the most advanced diagnostics and treatments—several of which were developed by our own researchers and clinicians.

As one of the first comprehensive programs, Children’s Orthopedic Care Center is the largest and most experienced pediatric orthopedic surgery center in the United States, performing more than 6,000 surgical procedures each year. Our program—ranked #1 in the country by U.S. News & World Report—is the nation’s preeminent care center for children and young adults with neuromuscular, developmental, congenital and post-traumatic problems of the musculoskeletal system.

Some of our team’s unique accomplishments include our:
development of the Boston Brace, a custom bracing system widely used throughout the United States and Europe

unique experience in the treatment of adolescent hip conditions

success with the VEPTR™(vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib) procedure: In 1998, Children’s was selected as a site for the first extensive VEPTR use outside San Antonio, where it was developed. Children’s has the second most extensive VEPTR experience in the nation.

experience with, and emphasis on, treating infantile (early-onset) scoliosis

experience with, and research in, brachial plexus birth palsy, including our international, multi-center study of this complex condition

Sports Medicine Program, including its pioneering research into the regeneration of ACL tissue and growth plate-sparing surgeries for ACL repair in pre-adolescents

extensive orthopedic research laboratories

Clinical Effectiveness Research Center for the study of children’s musculoskeletal disorders

Each year, our Spinal Program caregivers provide comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, consultation, treatment and follow-up care for children during more than 6,000 outpatient visits. And every year, our orthopedic surgeons perform more than 300 spine procedures.We offer orthopedic care in lots of places
Children’s provides orthopedic care—including for scoliosis and other spine problems—at Children’s satellite locations in Lexington, Peabody and Waltham, as well as at our main campus in Boston.
If you come from far away, we can help
As an international pediatric orthopedics center, Children’s treats young patients from all over the world. Our International Center assists families residing outside the United States: we facilitate the medical review of patient records; coordinate appointment scheduling; and help families with customs and immigration, transportation, hotel and housing accommodations.


Neuromuscular scoliosis: Reviewed by John Emans, MD