Structural scoliosis is more progressive and can result in severe deformities of the spine. This paper will only cover structural scoliosis. There are many causes of structural scoliosis. Causes of scoliosis are normally categorized into four general groups. Idiopathic scoliosis will be discussed more thoroughly than the others because it is the most common type.
Idiopathic scoliosis is scoliosis that results from no known cause.
The thoracic spine is most commonly affected by idiopathic scoliosis, and the curvature of the spine is most frequently convex to the right. Infantile scoliosis, juvenile scoliosis, and adolescent scoliosis are included in the idiopathic category. Infantile idiopathic scoliosis is not very common. Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are more common. Both of theses types of scoliosis affect females more than males.