This article provides a general overview of idiopathic scoliosis and its treatment. OrthoInfo features several articles on scoliosis developed in collaboration with the Pediatric Orthopaedic Association of North America and the Scoliosis Research Society. Please refer to the "Related Articles" listed on this page for additional information.

Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve sideways. There are several different types of scoliosis that affect children and adolescents. By far, the most common type is "idiopathic," which means the exact cause is not known.

Most cases of idiopathic scoliosis occur between age 10 and the time a child is fully grown. Scoliosis is rarely painful—small curves often go unnoticed by children and their parents, and are first detected during a school screening or at a regular check-up with the pediatrician.

In many cases, scoliosis curves are small and do not require treatment. Children with larger curves may need to wear a brace or have surgery to restore normal posture.