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Why does thoracic curves bend to the right?

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  • Why does thoracic curves bend to the right?

    thoracic curves almost always bend to the right hand side. It is so common that if you have a curve that bends to the left it is recommended that you get an MRI examination to rule out any other pathology.

    So why does thoracic scoliosis prefer the right side?
    A practitioner seeking answers to enhance the treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis

    Blog: www.fixscoliosis.com/

  • #2
    I'm a leftie but so far have not had to have a MRI.
    Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
    Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
    T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
    Osteotomies and Laminectomies
    Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by JenniferG View Post
      I'm a leftie but so far have not had to have a MRI.
      My dd has a left thoracic as well with very little compensatory curve.

      She had an MRI but we were told it was to make sure the spinal cord wasn't compromised.

      Other than that, the only thing I've read is that a left thoracic could indicate some underlying condition--but I couldn't tell you what it would be.

      I plan to ask that at my dd's appt. in Feb.

      Marian

      Comment


      • #4
        After reading this, I Googled like crazy, but found nothing to indicate that levoscoliosis (left pointing) indicated an underlying condition. If anybody knows anything about this subject, I would be keen to know.
        Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
        Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
        T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
        Osteotomies and Laminectomies
        Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

        Comment


        • #5
          Rule out red flags with left thoracic scoliosis

          Hi JenniferG

          hope this will help

          try google with: left thoracic scoliosis mri
          and you will get better results

          anyway I attached a link to an article that mentions about left thoracic.. I think the whole article is very informative about Idiopathic Scoliosis in general and recomend anyone i search of factual information about IS to read it.

          Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Review and Current Concepts (Am Fam Physician 2001;64:111-6.)
          States in their abstract: Severe pain, a left thoracic curve or an abnormal neurologic examination are red flags that point to a secondary cause for spinal deformity.

          in the article they say: Magnetic resonance imaging is indicated whenever there is a left thoracic curve, unusual pain or abnormalities on neurologic examination, or other red flags, to evaluate for spondylolisthesis, tumors or syringomyelia.
          A practitioner seeking answers to enhance the treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis

          Blog: www.fixscoliosis.com/

          Comment


          • #6
            Thanks FixScoliosis. I appreciate you taking the time to find that link.

            I checked out that and other sites and it seems there is an increased risk of a few neurological disorders. From what I read, an MRI is indicated if the left curving scoliosis is rapid progressing, which mine is not. I was barely aware I had scoliosis until my fifties so I am hoping this is the reason I have not been sent for an MRI.
            Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
            Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
            T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
            Osteotomies and Laminectomies
            Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

            Comment


            • #7
              Hi JenniferG

              In left thoracic scoliosis MRI is used to rule out "red flags", these usually serious conditions that will show themselves after a while, within few years. The recommendation to perform an MRI does not mean that all cases have something else causing it, it only means that something odd is discovered more often than in right thoracic curves and this applies more to JIS and AIS forms of scoliosis.

              In your case you can be quite relaxed, if you had something else being the cause, then you would have noticed it years ago.
              A practitioner seeking answers to enhance the treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis

              Blog: www.fixscoliosis.com/

              Comment


              • #8
                Thanks FixScoliosis. My nerves have settled down again, quite nicely!
                Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
                Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
                T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
                Osteotomies and Laminectomies
                Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

                Comment


                • #9
                  I apologize if I caused any undue stress.

                  I'm concerned about my dd, but she's had no pain or anything like that so I didn't really pursue it.

                  I will check out the link. Thanks for posting it!

                  Marian

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Lung capacity lost well before 100 degrees

                    From:
                    Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Review and Current Concepts (Am Fam Physician 2001;64:111-6.)

                    In most patients, life-threatening
                    effects on pulmonary function do not occur
                    until the scoliotic curve is 100 degrees or
                    greater
                    I've come across several articles documenting pulmonary impairment at curves of 60deg. I've referenced these in other forum posts. Perhaps when this article was written(2001), using references which were much older, pulmonary function was not studied as often.

                    I'm a case in point. I've never smoked, am not obese nor do I have asthma but my pre-revision pulmonary function was 30% reduced. I was actually very frightened how out of breath I became with minimal exertion(no cardiac problems either) and I did lose lung tissue. After eating a big meal I felt I was smothering. Revision surgery improved this greatly but I still have residual reduced lung capacity. I have enough, though, to go hiking in the Alps every year.

                    When enough lung capacity is lost, surgery is no longer an option because anesthesia cannot be tolerated.
                    Original scoliosis surgery 1956 T-4 to L-2 ~100 degree thoracic (triple)curves at age 14. NO hardware-lost correction.
                    Anterior/posterior revision T-4 to Sacrum in 2002, age 60, by Dr. Boachie-Adjei @Hospital for Special Surgery, NY = 50% correction

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Absolutely no need for apology, Marian!

                      I am learning more and more via this forum which I think is great.

                      Jen
                      Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
                      Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
                      T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
                      Osteotomies and Laminectomies
                      Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Why does thoracic curves bend to the right?

                        some research scientists have concluded that it is our internal organs and their asymmetric anatomy in our chest that is causing the thoracic scoliosis to prefer to bend to the right side.
                        For further explanation of how they came to that conclusion and proper references you may read my last two post in Dec 2008 in my blog.
                        A practitioner seeking answers to enhance the treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis

                        Blog: www.fixscoliosis.com/

                        Comment

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