Scoliosis Correction

Scoliosis affects six to nine million patients in the U.S. and is most often diagnosed during adolescence. Most cases are mild but may progress as a person grows older. Severe scoliosis can be disabling for individuals, reducing the space in the chest and impacting lung function. 

Though scoliosis itself is painless, age-related degenerative changes may lead to discomfort. There are three common types of scoliosis diagnosis: 

Idiopathic Scoliosis

Idiopathic scoliosis means that there is no definite cause for the abnormal curvature of the spine, and it’s the most common type of scoliosis. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to minimize the long-term effects of this condition. With early intervention, it may be treated with conservative, non-invasive methods.

Congenital Scoliosis

Congenital scoliosis develops before a child is born in one or more vertebrae along the spine. The malformations of the vertebrae cause curvature and other deformities because one area of the spinal column may lengthen slower than the rest of the spine. 

Neuromuscular Scoliosis

Neuromuscular scoliosis is a subset condition of neurological or muscular diseases. These conditions include scoliosis associated with cerebral palsy, spinal cord trauma, spinal muscular atrophy, and spina bifida.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED A SCOLIOSIS CORRECTION?

Scoliosis is a spinal condition that occurs when people have severe curves in their spines—usually 45 degrees or higher. One of the best treatments for scoliosis correction is spinal fusion, which is a surgery that realigns the spine by fusing together the curved vertebrae so that they heal into a single bone. Spinal fusion is an extremely effective procedure at improving spinal curves from scoliosis. 

If you have scoliosis and are wondering if spinal fusion surgery is a viable option for treatment, you should consider contacting a trusted spine surgeon. At NJ Spine and Orthopedic, our expert spine surgeons are extremely experienced in performing spinal fusion surgeries for scoliosis correction. 

SCOLIOSIS SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of scoliosis can vary between patients. However, 23% of patients with idiopathic scoliosis suffer from back pain at the time of initial diagnosis. Numerous symptoms may indicate scoliosis, including the following:

• Uneven shoulders 
• The head is not centered directly above the pelvis
• Hip bones may vary in height, either elevated or unusually high
• Rib cages are at different heights
• Waist is uneven
• The body leans to one side

Other symptoms may accompany scoliosis, such as back pain stemming from arthritis, inability to stand erect, as well as leg pain or weakness may develop if there is pressure on the nerves in the lumbar spine.

Spinal Fusion Surgery for Scoliosis Correction

In patients whose spinal curvature is expected to worsen from scoliosis, surgery is typically recommended to stop the curve’s progression. Spinal fusion surgery is the most common procedure used for scoliosis correction. This procedure involves fusing two or more vertebrae together so that they grow together from the spinal joint into a solid bone. 

Advanced and modern surgical approaches and tools, including rods, screws, and wires, have allowed spinal fusion surgeries to be very effective at correcting spinal curvature and reducing recovery times. Depending on the patient’s flexibility in their spine, spinal fusion surgery can correct the deformities in the spinal curvature by approximately 50-70%. This significant change can help patients to stand up straighter and have stronger balance in their trunk.