Did you know in mild thoracic dextroscoliosis, there are 22% chances for scoliosis to progress to severe form?
However, you can save yourself from severe dextroscoliosis of the thoracic spine if you consult the doctor at the right time and treat your condition as soon as possible.
The early you get the treatment, the lesser the chances of progression.
What is thoracic dextroscoliosis anyways? And what do we mean when we use the term ‘mild’ with thoracic dextroscoliosis? What is thoracolumbar dextroscoliosis?
All of these medical terms have different meanings which we will explain in a while. However, both these terms are bounded by their site, that is in the spine. And in all the cases the patient has a right side curvature of the spine.
Besides, it’s important to know the normal anatomy of the spine and only then you can differentiate it from the abnormal spine.
So, what is thoracic dextroscoliosis? Let’s dig into the details!
Thoracic Dextroscoliosis
What does thoracic dextroscoliosis mean? Let’s break it down for an easy understanding.
Thoracic means the mid part of the spine that is from spinal levels T1 to T12. This term describes the location of the curvature.
Dextro arises from the word dexter, meaning towards the right. Scoliosis refers to the abnormality in the spine characterized by a curvature, left or right, depending on the origin of the condition.
Now put it all together, thoracic dextroscoliosis, in simple words, is the dextroconvex curvature of the thoracic spine.
This means whenever your doctor uses the term dextroscoliosis thoracic spine, it refers to the abnormal curvature of the thoracic spine only, sparing the other lumbar segments of the spine.
Furthermore, there are two types or stages of thoracic dextroscoliosis. There can be a mild thoracic dextroscoliosis or the same condition taking a severe form.
However, the good news is thoracic dextroscoliosis is mostly mild, rarely progressing to the severe form.
Note: If you have dextroscoliosis of the thoracic spine, there is not much to worry about. It’s the levoscoliosis of the thoracic spine that develops an alarming situation as it puts a high risk on the heart, if not treated at an early stage.
When do you call it mild thoracic dextroscoliosis? Let’s find out!
Mild Thoracic Dextroscoliosis
We count it as mild dextroscoliosis of the thoracic spine by measuring the thoracic spine’s cobb angle.
Note: A cobb angle below a 10-degree curve is normal and is not included in scoliosis.
In mild thoracic dextroscoliosis, the curve exceeds the 10-degree marker and may land somewhere between 10 to 25 degrees.
It requires no treatment and might regress on its own after physiotherapy and exercising regularly.
However, the doctors keep monitoring the spine for six months to a year to look for any progressions or improvement.
The mild thoracic dextroscoliosis is usually symptomless or might as well present with a few general symptoms like tilted head, uneven shoulders, change in posture, etc.
However, the symptoms truly appear when the curve is between 25 to 40 degrees, the condition known as moderate thoracic dextroscoliosis.
Your doctor will recommend you wear a back brace to prevent the scoliotic spine from progressing to severe forms.
Severe Thoracic Dextroscoliosis
Sometimes, mild dextroscoliosis of the thoracic spine can progress to severe form as well.
And at other times, people are either born with it, that is, genetic, or have another associated pathology like cerebral palsy, arthritis, etc that can lead to dextroscoliosis.
Thoracic dextroscoliosis is severe when the spinal curve is above 40-degrees. There are recurrent episodes of breathlessness and pain. And the advanced stage will also hinder your daily activities.
The only treatment is spinal fusion surgery. And you will also have to wear a back brace till you get the surgery, which will help support the spine.
Thoracolumbar Dextroscoliosis
As the name suggests, thoracolumbar dextroscoliosis is the dextroconvex curvature of the thoracic spine as well as the lumbar spine.
Now, what do you interpret by the term mild thoracolumbar dextroscoliosis?
It simply means that the curve hasn’t worsened yet. And at this point, the condition is under control and treatable.
It mostly presents as a big C-shape curve, affecting both the mid and lower back. The curve is on the right side like in thoracic dextroscoliosis. And all these other symptoms are more or less similar to mild thoracic dextroscoliosis.
However, in mild thoracolumbar dextroscoliosis, there aren’t any symptoms except for the general ones like a notable curve, uneven shoulders and waistline, one arm and leg shorter than the other, disturbed posture, etc.
Moreover, since thoracolumbar dextroscoliosis involves the lumbar region as well, you might feel difficulty in passing urine and feces in advanced stages.
Note: The occurrence of lumbar dextroscoliosis is atypical also known as dextroconvex scoliosis.
FAQs
It’s a rather fancy term for dextroscoliosis thoracic spine, or in simple words, a right side curve in the thoracic vertebrae.
It might occur due to muscle spasms or with advanced age. Plus, thoracic dextroscoliosis is mostly associated with pain as well.
Like thoracic dextroscoliosis, the mild form of thoracolumbar dextroscoliosis (right curve in the thoracic and lumbar spine) is not alarming.
And it is treatable if diagnosed at an early stage. Your doctor will recommend physiotherapy to prevent further complications.
The first and foremost thing to do is regularly visit your doctor whether you have any health issues or not. You might not believe it but doing this can help you stay healthy and fit.
Following are the preventive measures for thoracic dextroscoliosis;
● Improve your posture
● Stay active and exercise daily
● Take healthy diet
● Consult a senior physician and start early therapy in mild stages.
Conclusion
So that was all about thoracic dextroscoliosis. In short, thoracic dextroscoliosis can be mild or might progress to severe forms.
Sometimes mild thoracic dextroscoliosis might go undiagnosed and is diagnosed in routine X-ray or when the spine starts showing a visible curve.
On the other hand, thoracolumbar dextroscoliosis affects the major portion of the spine, that is, there is dextroscoliosis of the thoracic and the lumbar spine.
We recommend you consult your doctor if you are noticing any change in health and take early treatment.