X-Ray Exam: Scoliosis (for Parents)

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Scoliosis</li> </ul> </div> </nav> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar"> <h1>X-Ray Exam: Scoliosis</h1> </div> <div id="languagePairLink" class="rs_skip" lang="es"> en español: <a href="/es/parents/xray-scoliosis.html">Radiografía: Escoliosis</a> </div> <div> <div id="reviewerBoxTop"> <div id="reviewedByTop"> Medically reviewed by: <a href="https://www.nemours.org/find-a-doctor/3974-suken-shah-orthopedics-wilmington.html" target="_blank">Suken A. Shah, MD</a> and <a href="https://www.nemours.org/find-a-doctor/24529-bernadette-fulweiler-orthopedics-wilmington.html" target="_blank">Bernadette Fulweiler, APN</a> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div id="departmentSpecialty"> <a href="https://www.nemours.org/services/spinecenter.html" class="rev-multi" target="_blank">Learn About the Spine & Scoliosis Center at Nemours Children's Health</a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="khcontent_article" class="khLeft"> <span class="ISI_MESSAGE"></span> <ul id="msArticleControls"> <li class="ac-readspeaker"> <div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"> <a onclick="rsUsed('1')" rel="nofollow" class="rsbtn_play rsen" title="Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker" href="//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&readid=khcontent_article&url=kidshealth.org/en/parents/xray-scoliosis.html" data-rsevent-id="rs_886605" role="button"> <span class="rsbtn_left rspart"> <span class="rsbtn_text"> <span class="readspeakerLauncher">Listen</span> </span> </span> <span class="rsbtn_right rsplay rspart"></span> </a> <div class="rsbtn_exp rsimg rspart"> <span class="rsbtn_box"> <button onclick="javascript:void(0);" class="rsbtn_pause rsimg rspart rsbutton" title="Play" data-rsphrase-pause="Pause" data-rsphrase-play="Play" data-rsevent-id="rs_249118"> <span class="rsbtn_btnlabel">Play</span> </button> <button onclick="javascript:void(0);" class="rsbtn_stop rsimg rspart rsbutton" title="Stop" data-rsevent-id="rs_658053"> <span class="rsbtn_btnlabel">Stop</span> </button> <span class="rsbtn_progress_container rspart" data-readspeaker-slider-id-="data-readspeaker-slider-parent-data-readspeaker-slider-id-10734" data-rsevent-id="rs_215867" style=""> <span class="rsbtn_progress_played" style="width: 0%;"></span> <span data-readspeaker-slider-id-="data-readspeaker-slider-id-10734" class="rsbtn_progress_handle rsimg" data-rsevent-id="rs_948321" style="left: 0px;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" role="slider" class="keyLink" style="display:block; border:0;" title="Seek bar" aria-label="Seek bar" aria-orientation="horizontal" aria-valuemin="0" aria-valuemax="100" aria-valuenow="0" data-rsevent-id="rs_781294"> </a></span></span> <button onclick="ariaVolume();" onfocus="ariaVolume();" onblur="ariaVolume();" onfocusout="ariaVolume();" id="thisRSVolume" class="rsbtn_volume rsimg rspart rsbutton" title="Volume" aria-expanded="false" tabindex="0" data-rsevent-id="rs_224875"> <span class="rsbtn_btnlabel">Volume</span> </button> <span class="rsbtn_volume_container rspart" id="thisRSVolumneContainer" style="display: none"> <span class="rsbtn_volume_slider" data-readspeaker-slider-id-="data-readspeaker-slider-parent-data-readspeaker-slider-id-14810" data-rsevent-id="rs_323957"><span data-readspeaker-slider-id-="data-readspeaker-slider-id-14810" class="rsbtn_volume_handle rsimg" data-rsevent-id="rs_195035"><a href="javascript:void(0);" role="slider" class="keyLink" style="display:block; border:0;" title="Change volume" aria-label="Change volume" aria-orientation="vertical" aria-valuemin="0" aria-valuemax="5" aria-valuenow="5" data-rsevent-id="rs_455317"> </a></span></span> </span> <a href="//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&readid=khcontent_article&url=kidshealth.org/en/parents/xray-scoliosis.html&audiofilename=KidsHealth_&save=1" target="rs" class="kh_rs_download rsimg rspart rsbutton" title="mp3"> <span class="rsbtn_btnlabel">mp3</span> </a> <button onclick="javascript:void(0);" class="rsbtn_settings rsimg rspart rsbutton" title="Settings" data-rsevent-id="rs_442984"> <span class="rsbtn_btnlabel">Settings</span> </button> <button class="rsbtn_closer rsimg rspart rsbutton" title="Close Player" data-rsevent-id="rs_377229"> <span class="rsbtn_btnlabel">Close Player</span> </button> <span class="rsdefloat"></span> </span> </div> </div> </li> <li class="ac-textSize"> <div id="kh-text-sizer"> <button id="kh-text-sizer-largest" onclick="textSizer('3');"> <span class="hideOffScreen">Larger text size</span> </button> <button id="kh-text-sizer-larger" onclick="textSizer('2');"> <span class="hideOffScreen">Large text size</span> </button> <button id="kh-text-sizer-regular" onclick="textSizer('1');"> <span class="hideOffScreen">Regular text size</span> </button> </div> </li> <li class="ac-print"> <div id="kh-print-button"> <a onclick='printWindow1(this.href); return false; rel="nofollow"' tabindex="0"> <span class="printLabel">Print</span> </a> </div> </li> </ul>   <div> <div class="cmp-container"> <div class="rte-image">  <h3>What's an X-Ray?</h3> <p><a href="/en/parents/xrays.html">An X-ray</a> is a safe and painless test that uses a small amount of radiation to make an image of bones, organs, and other parts of the body.</p> <p>The X-ray image is black and white. Dense body parts, such as bones, block the passage of the X-ray beam through the body. These look white on the X-ray image. Softer body tissues, such as the skin and muscles, allow the X-ray beams to pass through them. They look darker on the image.</p> <p>X-rays are commonly done in doctors’ offices, radiology departments, imaging centers, and dentists’ offices.</p> <h3>What Is a Scoliosis X-Ray?</h3> <p>A <a href="/en/parents/scoliosis.html">scoliosis</a> X-ray creates detailed images of the spine. An <a href="/en/parents/get-xray.html">X-ray machine</a> sends a beam of radiation through the back, and an image is recorded on a computer or special film. The scoliosis X-ray includes the thoracic spine (upper back) and the lumbar spine (lower back).</p> <p>X-rays are done by an X-ray technician in the radiology department of a hospital, a freestanding radiology center, or a health care provider's office. They usually take two pictures of the spine:</p> <ul> <li>one from the back (posteroanterior or PA view)</li> <li>one from the side (lateral view)</li> </ul> <p>Sometimes other views are taken as the person bends to the side.</p> <h3>Why Are Scoliosis X-Rays Done?</h3> <p>Children with scoliosis have a spine that curves from side to side, like an <strong>S</strong> or a <strong>C</strong>. Small curves generally don't cause problems, but bigger curves can be visible and cause discomfort. A curved spine can cause the trunk to shift to the left or right. One shoulder blade may be higher than the other, or the waist may be uneven, with a tendency to lean to one side.</p> <p>A severe curve can even affect breathing and heart function and lead to damage in the joints of the spine and pain during adulthood.</p> <p>Primary care providers routinely check kids for scoliosis during regular <a href="/en/parents/checkups.html">checkups</a>. If scoliosis is suspected, they may order X-rays to measure the curvature of the spine. The angle of the curve, measured in degrees on the X-ray, will help them decide whether it needs to be treated and, if so, how.</p> <p>X-rays also help determine the type of scoliosis and how mature the child's skeleton is, which helps the provider predict if the curve might get worse. The scoliosis X-ray might be repeated at regular intervals (often every 6 months) to check whether the curve is getting bigger or to monitor the effects of treatment.</p> <p>The provider might refer your child to a specialist for further evaluation. If a neurological problem is suspected, the doctor may order a <a href="/en/parents/mri-lumbar.html">magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)</a> study to look at the spinal cord.</p> <h3>What Happens During a Scoliosis X-Ray?</h3> <p>Although the procedure may take about 10 minutes, actual exposure to radiation is usually less than a few seconds.</p> <h4>Traditional X-Ray</h4> <p>Your child will go into a special room with a table and a large X-ray machine hanging from the ceiling or wall. Parents usually can stay with their child to provide reassurance. If you stay in the room while the X-ray is done, you'll wear a lead apron to protect certain parts of the body. The child's reproductive organs also are protected with a lead shield.</p> <p>A scoliosis X-ray is usually done with the child in a standing position. The technician will position the child, then step behind a wall or into an adjoining room to operate the machine. Two X-rays are usually taken (from the back and from the side), so the technician will return to reposition the child for each X-ray. Sometimes doctors will ask for more views.</p> <p>Older kids will be asked to hold their breath and remain still for 2–3 seconds while each X-ray is taken. Infants may require gentle restraint. Keeping still is important to prevent blurring of the X-ray image.</p> </div> <div class="rte-image">  <p class="center_this"> <img src="/content/dam/patientinstructions/en/images/xray-400x425-rd1-enIL.gif" alt=""/> </p> </a> </p> </div> <div class="rte-image">  <h4>EOS Imaging System</h4> <p>Some scoliosis X-rays are done with an EOS X-ray machine. This machine uses a very low dose of radiation, which is ideal in scoliosis patients who need to get X-rays regularly.</p> <p>The child goes into a small booth, where both the picture from the front and the sides are taken at the same time. The X-rays are done in less than 30 seconds. Your child won't need to wear a lead apron due to the much lower doses of radiation.</p> <h3>What If I Have Questions?</h3> <p>If you have questions about the scoliosis X-ray, speak with your doctor. You can also talk to the X-ray technician before the procedure.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy"><strong>Medically reviewed by: </strong><a href="https://www.nemours.org/find-a-doctor/3974-suken-shah-orthopedics-wilmington.html" class="vcard-link" target="_blank">Suken A. Shah, MD</a> and <a href="https://www.nemours.org/find-a-doctor/24529-bernadette-fulweiler-orthopedics-wilmington.html" class="vcard-link" target="_blank">Bernadette Fulweiler, APN</a> </div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: January 2022</div> </div> <span class="ISI_MESSAGE">  </span> </div> <div id="khcontent_article_aside" class="khRight"> <div> <aside aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <div id="kh-mott-box"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader" class="JSMott">More on this topic for:</h2> <ul id="kh-mott-tabs" role="tablist" class="JSMott"> <li data-section="parents" role="presentation"><button type="button" role="tab" aria-controls="parents_panel" id="parents_tab" tabindex="0" aria-selected="true" class="kh-mott-active">Parents</button></li> <li data-section="kids" role="presentation"><button type="button" role="tab" aria-controls="kids_panel" id="kids_tab" tabindex="-1" aria-selected="false">Kids</button></li> <li data-section="teens" role="presentation"><button type="button" role="tab" aria-controls="teens_panel" id="teens_tab" tabindex="-1" aria-selected="false">Teens</button></li> </ul> <div id="parents_panel" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="parents_tab"> <h2 class="sansJSMott">More on this topic<br/>For Parents</h2> <ul id="kh-mott-parents-links" class="kh-mott-links" style="display: block"> <li> <a href="/en/parents/scoliosis.html"> Scoliosis </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/idiopathic-scoliosis.html"> Idiopathic Scoliosis </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/kyphosis.html"> Kyphosis </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/parents/get-xray.html"> Getting an X-Ray </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="kids_panel" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="kids_tab"> <h2 class="sansJSMott">More on this topic<br/>For Kids</h2> <ul id="kh-mott-kids-links" class="kh-mott-links"> <li> <a href="/en/kids/word-scoliosis.html"> What Is Scoliosis?</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/kids/video-xray.html"> Getting an X-ray (Video)</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="teens_panel" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <h2 class="sansJSMott">More on this topic<br/>For Teens</h2> <ul id="kh-mott-teens-links" class="kh-mott-links"> <li> <a href="/en/teens/video-xray.html"> X-Ray (Video) </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/scoliosis.html"> Scoliosis </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/kyphosis.html"> Kyphosis </a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/teens/scoliosis-brace.html"> Scoliosis: Bracing </a> </li> </ul> </div> <button id="kh-mott-toggle" data-expanded="false">View more</button> </div> </aside> </div> <aside aria-label="Nemours Message"> <div id="kh-partner-ad" class="rs_skip rs_preserve"> <div class="kh-inline"><iframe title="Partner Message" id="mobad_in_if" src="/content/kidshealth/us/misc/inline_ad.html" style="display: block; 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X-Ray Exam: Scoliosis (for Parents) | Nemours KidsHealth