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What Is Congenital Scoliosis?

Congenital scoliosis is when the bones in a baby’s spine (vertebrae) don’t form normally before birth. The baby may be born with a curved spine or develop one later.

If needed, treatments can help kids with congenital scoliosis.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Congenital Scoliosis?

At birth, a baby with congenital scoliosis (sko-lee-OH-sis) might have no signs of the condition. When the child goes through a growth spurt at around age 2 or during puberty, these signs may show up:

  • a curved spine
  • uneven shoulders, hips, and/or waistline
  • a head tilt

Rarely, congenital scoliosis can cause problems with the spinal cord or nerves.

Children with congenital scoliosis also might have problems with the way other organs (such as the heart, kidneys, stomach, and bladder) formed before they were born.