Washington University Orthopedics - Spine Center

The Spine Center, conveniently located at our Orthopedic Outpatient Center in Chesterfield, provides comprehensive, specialized care to patients with acute back pain and neck pain. We are committed to seeing patients as soon as possible, and in most cases, appointments are given within 48 hours of your initial phone call.

76 percent of Americans suffer from acute back pain at some time during their lives. The focus of our center is to see patients early in the development of their symptoms and to provide a specific diagnosis and treatment plan. In addition to individualized treatment plans, rehabilitation also includes education regarding body mechanics specific to a patient’s lifestyle.

Dr. Larry Lenke Discusses Frequently Asked Questions About Scoliosis

Why does scoliosis develop most often in late childhood? And why is it more common in girls? 

Scoliosis most often develops in late childhood because of the association between growth and progressive scoliosis curves. Although scoliosis can develop at any age, including infantile (age birth- 3), Juvenile (age 3-10), adolescent (age 10-18) and adult (> age 18), the most common time to detect curves are in late childhood/early teen years. Thus, the most common form seen, Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), is detected between ages 10 and 18, often just before or after puberty and the associated adolescent growth spurt. Small curves (10-20 degrees) are nearly equally found in boys and girls, but larger curves which often need treatment (those > 40 degrees) are seen in females to males in a 9:1 ratio. It is a bit unclear why that is the case, it may certainly be a genetic tendency, and/or something relating to hormonal alterations or connective tissue adaptations for the potential for childbirth in females.