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When you hear the term “spinal deformity” most individuals will first think of juvenile, adolescent, or adult scoliosis of the spine. While this is indeed a common spinal deformity, there are a number of other diseases and conditions affecting the spine’s curvature and thus, compromising the structural integrity and alignment of the spine. As with severe cases of scoliosis, many spinal deformities can be debilitating in nature, requiring the assessment of scoliosis and spinal deformity specialists. Read on to learn about these deformities and how University Spine Associates address debilitating symptoms, like severe spinal and back pain.
- Abnormal Kyphosis: A healthy spine features an outward curve in the thoracic region known as a kyphosis curve. When this curvature is severe as a result of poor posture, disease, degeneration, or a congenital condition, it is known as abnormal kyphosis. This unnatural curvature of the spinal column may also occur in the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine. Typically, this condition can be treated through non-invasive measures but in extreme cases may require spinal surgery to relieve debilitating symptoms. In these rare cases, scoliosis and spinal deformity specialists correct vertebra angular deformities through a procedure known as an osteotomy and later stabilize the spine using spinal fusion.
- Spondylolisthesis: Spondylolisthesis is the forward slip of a vertebra over the one beneath it. As with kyphosis, it can be a result of a congenital condition or degeneration, or may be the result of a traumatic spinal injury. In many instances, the spine will compensate for the deformity, not requiring corrective realignment action, though spinal stenosis (pressure on the spinal cord and nerves) may occur requiring surgical intervention. In these cases, spine surgeons utilize any number of spinal fusion techniques depending upon the location of the slipped vertebra.
Every spinal deformity—be it adult, adolescent, and juvenile scoliosis or kyphosis—demands the attention of a dedicated healthcare professional specializing in orthopaedic spinal conditions. You’ll find this standard of care at University Spine Associates where providing nothing less than state of the art services is our standard. Contact our office today to learn more about our services in spinal deformities, including but not limited to minimally invasive outpatient spine surgery, back surgery, neck surgery, and scoliosis surgery.
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