Surgical treatment
Surgery is usually recommended in progressive scoliosis – for curves more than 25-degree. Doctors recommend braces depending upon the patient’s scoliosis and skeletal maturity. The purpose of surgery is to preserve the neurological function. The patients with scoliosis and neuromuscular disorder are treated with spinal fusion as their curves are very stiff and progressive. Another serious condition from which adults with scoliosis suffer is nerve compression. Removal of compression is necessary because nerve damage can lead to extremely serious complications.
Spinal fusion is recommended for stabilization and straightening of the spine. The purpose of this surgery is not to straighten the curve completely as in the effort of balancing the curve spinal cord can get injured. Therefore, the basic aim, in that case, is to balance the spine and prevent the condition from getting worse.
For children
Surgery for scoliosis in children is different from that of adults. Children under ten can have an operation in which a special rod is inserted alongside the spine, which helps stop the curve from worsening as the spine grows.
After the procedure, the child needs to visit specialists every few months to the lengthening of rode to keep up their growth.
Lengthening procedure can be one of two;
A minor procedure of extending rods through a small cut in the back
Activation of magnets inside the rod with the help of remote control, no requirement of the incision
A child should wear braces even after the surgery to protect his/her back. When the skeletal growth is completed, rods can be removed to perform a final operation to straighten the spine.