What sorts of birth defects cause congenital scoliosis?
The most common birth defect is called hemivertebra, which means half of one side of a vertebra forms while the other side doesn’t. Another defect is called a unilateral bar, a condition where you will find three to four vertebrae stuck or fused together on one side. At present, no one knows what causes these defects. Q: In the case of hemivertebra, how does it create a curvature? A: All growing bones have growth centers, but if you’re born with half a bone on one side and the other side is missing, the side with the growth center will grow faster than the other, and you end up with a curvature. Q: Does congenital scoliosis occur more often in girls than in boys? A: Yes, it occurs about 60% of the time n girls, 40% in boys. We do not know why this is so Q: When are doctors most likely to see signs of congenital scoliosis in children? A: We seldom see it at birth unless an x-ray has been taken for some other purpose, such as pneumonia, or unless the child is born crooked. I have seen a
