Spinal Danger For Teens

The adolescent growth spurt can produce all sorts of problems. For more than one in 50 girls, a sideways curve of the spine, known as scoliosis, can be one of them. It's not clear what causes scoliosis, or why adolescent girls are at much more risk than boys. Early detection is vital - the earlier the treatment is given, the better the prognosis, says Thomas Taylor, emeritus professor of orthopedics and traumatic surgery at Royal North Shore Hospital. He says scoliosis screening used to be ...