Clinical Definition

Family practice, Orthopedics, Pediatrics

In Our Own Words

Typically, the back’s vertebrae are stacked on top of each other. If the spine is viewed from the back, the vertebrae should be in a straight line from the neck to the tailbone. Scoliosis is a medical condition in which the spine has an abnormal sideways curve. It can be caused by conditions, such as muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular conditions, but usually the cause is unknown.  Sometimes, people with scoliosis are shorter than they would normally be because of the sideways curvature. The curvature can also cause the shoulders and hips to become uneven.