Adult Spinal Deformity

Adult Spinal Deformity
Symptoms

Unlike teenagers with spinal deformity who rarely complain of pain, adult patients with deformity present with a variety of symptoms. Low back pain and stiffness are the two most common symptoms. In addition, numbness and cramping in the legs and shooting leg pain due to pinched nerves can occur. These symptoms are due to degeneration of the discs and joints leading to narrowing of the openings for the spinal sac and nerves (spinal stenosis). Loss of sagittal balance causes the patients to compensate by bending their hips and knees to try and maintain an upright posture. This puts greater strain on the muscles of the lower back and legs causing the patients to fatigue early. There is a gradual loss of function and a decrease in the activities of daily living.

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The Scoliosis Research Society provides information on these web pages regarding research and links as a public service. The SRS believes that patients should contact their treating physician about the relevance of any information listed on the site prior to proceeding with any particular treatment. Just as no two individuals are exactly alike, no two patients with a spinal deformity are the same. Therefore, your spinal deformity surgeon will be the most important source of information about the management of your particular spinal problem.