What Causes Scoliosis?

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is the name for a group of disorders affecting the connective tissues that support the blood vessels, skin, bones, joints, and organs. Connective tissue defects lead to symptoms that may be mild or life-threatening. Some patients only have mildly loose joints, while others develop severe complications. Most types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome come with an unusually large movement range for the joints. These loose joints dislocate easily and can cause chronic pain. When joints throughout the body are loose, it can impede spinal development, leading to scoliosis. Scoliosis might also be related to weak muscle tone in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patients.

Spina Bifida

Spina bifida is the name of a neural tube birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord and spine don't develop properly. When embryos are developing, the embryonic structure that develops into the spinal cord and brain is called the neural tube. In normal pregnancies, the neural tube appears early and has closed in less than twenty-nine days following conception. However, in children with spina bifida, part of the neural tube doesn't close or develop properly, which leads to defects in the vertebrae and overall spinal cord. The condition ranges from mild to more severe depending on the defects and their complications. If the spinal cord doesn't develop properly as the child grows, it can lead to scoliosis curvatures.