Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine.  There are many reasons why one may have a curve.  The most common form is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis arises from an otherwise normal spine during early adolescence.  Its severity is very variable and treatment depends on the age, skeletal maturity and type of curve. Appropriate treatment from observation, to bracing, to minimally invasive surgery, to more extensive surgery needs to be determined on an individual basis.

Other, more complicated, curvatures exist because the spine has a defect or an anomaly.   These curves, which are often congenital in nature, are called Congenital scoliosis. For more information, this website may be helpful.