Every year students below college level are screened by the school nurse and staff to make sure the students are healthy and to check for any abnormalities. One of the tests the nurses do is check for scoliosis, which is a condition in which the spine curves to the left or right. With pronounced scoliosis, an individual can experience problems such as one shoulder or hip higher than the other, an uneven waist, different arm and leg lengths, and more. Over time Scoliosis often tends to get worse with time and often becomes painful and debilitating. Currently the only way to combat this disease in children is to fit them with a brace that they wear nearly all day every day in an effort to keep the spine from curving any further and hopefully developing in correct alignment. In children, girl are more likely to develop scoliosis over boys by a ratio of 9:1, which is a frightening difference and the reason is still unknown. Unfortunately for the children suffering from scoliosis, the brace itself can be a burden and stressful accessory in their life as it is bulky and not easily hidden under clothing. These braces are often fitted in a time in which it is a bad place for children to stand out from the crowd and can cause various other problems for the child at a young age.
With a recent advent in genetic analysis, a new test has been developed which can hopefully ease the life of some individuals who suffer from scoliosis and also work as a prevention technique. This test, developed by Axial Biotech, uses a small sample of saliva and analyzes two genetic markers which indicate the degree of which the scoliosis will worsen while the bones are still growing in adolescents. The total procedure combines the previous test and a physical test measuring the curvature of the spine and after combining the data a number is found which is called the ScoliScore.
Through clinical studies it has been shown that ScoliScore can predict with almost 99 percent accuracy whether mild adolescent scoliosis in white children will progress to become a severe curve that requires surgery. This results of these tests can tell families and individuals whether or not the patient will be required or further required to wear a brace and reduce the amount of check-ups at the doctors office.
I never knew that scoliosis was that much more common in females. I also was under the impression that most of scoliosis was due to the child's posture (not sitting up straight etc). I found your post a refreshing look at this condition. I think that with genetic testing children can be diagnosed quicker. As many diseases and conditions, an earlier diagnosis leads to better treatment and prognosis.
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