Childhood/Juvenile-onset Scoliosis is almost always due primarily to General Ligament Laxity (GLL) associated with an Iliolumbar or Sacroiliac Ligament sprain followed—in sequence—by Sacroiliac Joint hypermobility, misalignment, and ultimately, partial dislocation (subluxation).
Classic GLL symptoms include:
- Double jointedness (multiple joint hypermobility).
- Flattened foot arches (i.e., Pes planus), often accompanied by first-toe abnormalities such as lateral deviation (Hallux valgus) and bunion formation.
- Frequent, recurrent joint dislocations (e.g., the sacroliac joint, ankle, and shoulder).
- Frequent, recurrent joint sprain injuries (e.g., the ankle).
More often, symptoms and signs of Early-onset Secondary Scoliosis occur in females and often “run in the family.”
- In many cases, diagnosis of Early-onset is made by a school nurse or family pediatrician, without previous signs of physical dysfunction or patient complaint—in fact, the patient may even be a high-performance, star athlete.
- These patients frequently initially present with vertebral side-bending and upper thoracic (intrascapular) rib deformation forming a costovertebral ‘hump,’ which may be uncomfortable.
- Juvenile and Childhood Scoliosis patients often exhibit much more profound postural changes than are seen in the adult-onset variety.
- However, Early-onset Scoliosis is not always accompanied by the low back pain that is common in Adult-onset Scoliosis.
Occasionally, Early-onset SI Joint dysfunction with compensatory Scoliosis may not be recognized until adulthood. In some cases, patients who are diagnosed at an earlier age are obliged to just “live with it”—only to find themselves with significant back pain, years later.
Other symptoms and signs of Early-onset Secondary Scoliosis are, usually, those of acquired short and long legs requiring a complete musculoskeletal examination. These symptoms and signs are described under Adult-onset Secondary Scoliosis.
Though the clinical symptoms might be more subtle in the Early-onset medical history, the physical signs are blatantly obvious on complete musculoskeletal examination!