Our three year old son has just been diagnosed with something called infantile idiopathic scoliosis. I know it means there’s a curve in the spine but what else can you tell me?

Scoliosis does mean spinal curvature. Infantile refers to the young age of the patient. Idiopathic suggests there’s no known cause of the problem. In some young children scoliosis is part of another condition such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Sometimes deformed vertebrae are the basis of the scoliosis.

The doctor’s first step is to search carefully for a primary cause for the scoliosis. MRIs are strongly advised for young children with curves measuring 20 degrees or more. The MRI will help show if there are any other problems with the developing spinal cord or brain.

For those children who truly have no obvious underlying cause, the diagnosis remains “idiopathic.” Boys and children born underweight seem to be at greatest risk for this type of scoliosis. The reason for this remains unknown.

Your child will need regular visits with the doctor during his growth and development. X-rays are usually taken every four to six months to keep an eye on the curve. Treatment is started if the curve gets worse quickly or when it goes past 35 degrees. There are a variety of treatment options depending on the age of the child and severity of the curve.