Q A friend of mine has recently found out that her three-year-old daughter has a severely curved spine. Would she have been born with this, and should it have been found at birth? Will she have to have operations to correct this condition? What will be done?
Depending upon the curvature, the baby has either kyphosis, lordosis or scoliosis. Some babies may be born with a spine deformity. Some children have neuromuscular diseases, injuries or other illnesses that cause spinal deformities—for example, cerebral palsy, spina bifida or muscular dystrophy. In these conditions, muscle abnormalities combined with the child~s growth, result in deformity. After thoroughly assessing her condition, she may undergo either physical therapy or surgical correction.