Scoliosis is a curvature of the bones of the spine. There are many ways to describe this and one of the most common ways is to describe it in the shape of the letter S. It is a curve from side to side. The beginning of the curve may be an abnormal development at a particular area and the body tries to compensate for this by curving in the opposite direction. So if you have a curve beginning on the left side the body tries to straighten this by curving to the right side to compensate for this.

Babies born with the birth defect esophageal atresia and or tracheoesophageal fistula may develop scoliosis some time after surgery. The operation to correct this birth defect esophageal atresia usually requires the surgeon to begin surgery by opening the skin under the babies arm between the 5th costal space, spreading the ribs, finding the two ends of the esophagus and sewing them together, then closing each layer of tissue and closing the outside layer of skin.

As this wound heals scar tissue forms and it is the scar tissue that prevents the body skin from stretching and growing with the child. The scar tissue does not have the elasticity to stretch and allow the body to grow equally on both sides. The side of the baby that was not operated on with the muscles, bones, tissue and skin will grow normally but the opposite side where the baby was opened will not because the scar tissue does not stretch as normal tissue does.

So as one side is growing normally the other side is stuck and can't grow with the body; it's like there is a tug of war contest between the two sides of the body. Only one side is going to win. One side is pulling the way it is suppose to and the other side can't grow. This kind of scoliosis is called cicatricial scoliosis and is defined as scoliosis due to scar tissue or dead tissue contraction.

If a baby is born with hip dislocations it is possible they may develop lower spine scoliosis in the lumbar area due to the tilting of the pelvis called coxitic scoliosis.

Congenital Scoliosis is present at birth which means it is very plain to see and is usually caused by something going wrong during embryonic development of the spine.

There are many other definitions of scoliosis due to disease and due to anatomical description.

To measure the degree of curvature in the spine a special instrument is used called a scoliosmetry. This will help the doctor determine the angle of curvature and the progression of curvature.

It is important to check your child's spine as he or she grows to see if scoliosis develops. Most cases do not develop into severe problems but they can. The curve in the spine can get severe enough to cause pressure on the heart and lungs and this causes problems with blood flow that carries oxygen to parts of the body and also loss of oxygen to the lungs can cause breathing and respiratory difficulties.