Mild scoliosis of the thoracic spine

Thoracic scoliosis refers to the curvature of one or more vertebrae in the spine. If a patient has thoracic curvature, it will be accompanied by spinal deformity. In contemporary society, many people suffer from thoracic scoliosis, and the patients are very young. Patients with mild thoracic scoliosis often experience symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, shoulder and back pain, and difficulty concentrating. Below, the editor introduces the causes, differential diagnosis, treatment principles and prevention methods of thoracic scoliosis.

1. Causes

There are many causes of thoracic scoliosis, the most common of which are long-term carrying of heavy objects on one shoulder, long-term incorrect posture, unilateral exercise resulting in uneven tightness of the thoracic muscles on both sides, and tilt of the pelvis causing compensatory scoliosis of the thoracic spine. Other causes such as heavy external force, car accidents, collisions, etc. can also cause compression of the thoracic nerves and lead to diseases of the chest organs.

2. Differential Diagnosis

1. Thoracic vertebra deformity

Due to long-term sitting and sleeping postures, as well as dehydration and degeneration of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc, the lordosis of the thoracic spine may gradually disappear, and may even become straight or hyperextension curved, that is, convex backwards, causing thoracic kyphosis deformity.

2. Lumbarization of the thoracic spine

It refers to the 12th thoracic vertebra losing its ribs and forming a lumbar-like shape. If the 5th lumbar vertebra is not accompanied by sacralization, it still presents the shape of a lumbar vertebra and has the function of a lumbar vertebra.

3. Thoracic scoliosis

It is a spinal deformity in which one or more thoracic vertebral segments are bent laterally and accompanied by vertebral rotation.

3. Treatment principles

The four physiological curvatures of the spine determine a person's posture, and changes in curvature will affect the health of the body. Because the scoliosis occurs in the thoracic spine, if it continues to develop, it may affect respiratory function. If obvious symptoms of nerve compression or local pain occur, conservative treatment should be given first, using physical therapy, traction, injections and other therapies. Surgery can be used to correct functional impairment.

4. Prevention

1. Maintain a correct working posture

Those who mainly work in a sitting position should pay attention to keeping the thoracic spine in a natural physiological arched position, and try to avoid postures with one shoulder high and the other low, or lateral bending and twisting postures.

2. Maintain a good sleeping posture

Sleeping posture is very important for thoracic spine health. The shoulders and hips are the parts of the human body with the largest transverse diameter. The thoracic spine is in an upright position when lying on your back, and is laterally flexed when lying on your side. Therefore, it is better to alternate between lying on your back and lying on your side. If you lie on one side for a long time, scoliosis and lateral bending may occur due to strain on certain sections of the thoracic vertebrae. If you lie in a semi-supine or semi-prone position for a long time, left-right rotational dislocation of the thoracic spine may easily occur.

3. Precautions for sports

When riding a bicycle, avoid riding on a bike with a tall rider and a short rider, as this may cause the upper body to lean forward and the shoulders to rise. Coupled with the bumps in the ride, this can easily damage the upper thoracic vertebrae over time and cause anterior-posterior slippage dislocation.