Adult scoliosis is a persistent lateral curve of the spine of more than 10 degrees in the upright or standing position. This curvature causes the spinal column to bend to the left or the right. Adult scoliosis affects patients 20 and older.

Sometimes adult scoliosis results from a childhood curvature that was left untreated and has since progressed. If scoliosis occurs in an adult with no history of a childhood curvature, it is called adult degenerative scoliosis.

Curve types:

• Double major - Right thoracic and left lumbar curves are equal
• Lumbar - Less visible on physical examination; 70 percent occur on the left side
• Thoracic - A common patterns in scoliosis; 90 percent occur on the right side
• Thoracolumbar - Another common pattern in scoliosis; 80 percent occur on the right side