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What Causes Scoliosis?
Scoliosis may be due to several underlying diseases. However, the most common type of scoliosis is “idiopathic,” which means “of unknown cause.” Researchers have isolated some genes thought to cause scoliosis. However, no pattern of genetic transmission has been identified until now, and it is commonly thought that not only genetics but environmental factors (e.g., growth) play a role in the etiology of scoliosis.
The second most common type of scoliosis is neuromuscular scoliosis, a result of neural or muscular disorders such as: cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, etc.
The third most common type of scoliosis is congenital scoliosis, which displays vertebral anomalies.
Other less-common causes of scoliosis include:
- connective tissue disorders
- vertebral fractures
- spinal infections
- spinal tumors
- metabolic diseases
- rheumatologic diseases