Current understanding of the etiopathogenesis of adolescent scoliosis and degenerative disc disease

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Assist. R.R. Abdullaiev

Kharkiv National Medical University

Recent studies show that the prevalence of scoliosis among children over 10 years of age ranges from 1-3%. It is characterized by varying degrees of spinal deformity and chronic back pain. The rate of progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is highest in patients experiencing a pubertal growth spurt.

Idiopathic scoliosis is often associated with the development of degenerative disc disease. The latter is characterized by both structural damage and concomitant inflammatory changes in the intervertebral discs. The most common method for diagnosing scoliosis is radiography. However, it does not directly visualize the intervertebral discs, which often undergo degenerative changes in adolescents with scoliosis. The role of MRI in diagnosing osteochondrosis is well known, but its expense limits its widespread use in childhood. Ultrasonography is an alternative method for examining intervertebral discs.

Key words: adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, pediatric osteochondrosis, degenerative disc disease, radiography, ultrasonography, lumbar spondylolisthesis, magnetic resonance imaging.

https://doi.org/10.15407/internalmed2026.01.024

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Для цитування:

Абдуллаєв, Р.Р. Сучасне розуміння етіопатогенезу підліткового сколіозу і дегенеративної хвороби дисків / Р.Р. Абдуллаєв // Східноєвропейський журнал внутрішньої та сімейної медицини. — 2026. — № 1. — С. 24-30. doi: 10.15407/internalmed2026.01.024

Abdullaiev RR. Suchasne rozuminnia etiopatohenezu pidlitkovoho skoliozu i deheneratyvnoi khvoroby dyskiv [Current understanding of the etiopathogenesis of adolescent scoliosis and degenerative disc disease]. Shidnoevr. z. vnutr. simejnoi med. 2026;1:24-30. Ukrainian. doi: 10.15407/internalmed2026.01.024

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