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Any surgery presents risks. Spinal surgery, in particular, holds the danger of spinal cord damage and irreversible injury to the spinal nerves. In certain cases, however, spine surgery, such as spinal fusion, may lead to a future free of severe back pain and reduced spinal deformity for those living with advanced adolescent or adult scoliosis. But how do you know when minimally invasive spine surgery or open back surgery is the correct course of action? The answer lies in the careful evaluation of a patient’s scoliosis condition. Scoliosis specialists will gauge the severity of the curvature, the age and stage of patient growth, the likelihood the structural alignment of the spine will worsen over time as a result of scoliosis progression, as well as how the disease is impacting the patient’s overall quality of life. If you exhibit any or a combination of the following disease characteristics, scoliosis surgery may be the best option in terms of available scoliosis treatments for your condition:
- A Cobb curvature measurement greater than 50 degrees
- Deformities first diagnosed in youth (juvenile scoliosis) have progressed despite non-surgical scoliosis treatment, like bracing
- Debilitating symptoms are not alleviated through therapy, medication, or other non-invasive actions
- Chance of deformity progression is imminent or very likely
- Secondary lumbar stenosis as a result of a degenerative scoliosis
- Previous scoliosis surgery as an adolescent
What are the Goals of Surgery for Scoliosis of the Spine?
The goal of scoliosis surgery is to prevent further curvature, correct spine structural alignment, and reduce spinal/scoliosis back pain. In severe cases, scoliosis can result in lung and heart complications as a result of thoracic vertebrae twisting and thus, chest cavity restriction that is a result of a misaligned ribcage. In such cases, spinal surgery is recommended if patient health permits.
Spinal fusion is the most common surgical procedure used to achieve the above mentioned outcomes. How does it work? The surgeon promotes alignment and spinal rigidity with the insertion of bone grafts between vertebrae. Overtime, the bone grafts will spur fusion between the two vertebrae, stopping movement and stabilizing the spinal column. In many cases, spinal instrumentation, like bone screws, hooks, and cages, are used to stabilize the spine during the fusion process. Spinal fusion surgical options vary depending upon the location of the curve and its severity. Click here to learn about these options in spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis patients.
Back Surgery: Risks, Complications & Recovery
As with every surgery, scoliosis surgery has its risks. For one, the spinal cord or spinal nerves may be injured during the procedure. Secondly, spinal fusion may not yield the expected benefits. In certain cases, the fusion may fail to heal, or instrumentation may break. Recovery periods are dependent upon the patient’s age, condition, as well as the level of invasiveness. Fusions typically heal in a period of 6 to 9 months. Adult scoliosis surgery carries with it many risks but when done appropriately can make a dramatic and sustained improvement in patients quality of life. Dr. Blecher performs adults scoliosis surgery out of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick , New Jersey. We have developed a multispecialty team approach to treat patients with adult scoliosis in New Jersey.
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