Scoliosis surgery
Scoliosis surgery procedure
Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine is deviated and causes a deformity in the back. Surgery may be indicated for patients with a curvature greater than 45 or 50 degrees according to the Cobb angle, which is the reference that precisely allows us to know the degrees of the curve. This parameter is what affects most medical decisions, which require a personalized diagnosis.
What is scoliosis corrective surgery?
There are different procedures for scoliosis corrective surgery. The best treatment for scoliosis surgery will depend on the needs and characteristics of each patient and the severity of their condition.
- Spinal fusion: This is the most common method of scoliosis surgery. It involves straightening the spine with metal rods, screws or hooks, and bone grafts are placed along the spine to promote fusion and prevent further curvature.
- Growing rods – or growing rods: used for children who are still growing and involves attaching metal rods to the spine, which lengthen as the child grows. It helps straighten the spine gradually over time.
- Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT): it is a more recent method that involves attaching a rope to the tensing spine to straighten it. It is less invasive than spinal fusion and allows greater flexibility of the spine. It is usually indicated for patients with moderate scoliosis who are still growing. VBT is not usually recommended for patients with severe scoliosis.
Compared to spinal fusion, VBT is less invasive and allows greater flexibility of the spine. It is, however, a procedure with a higher rate of re-interventions as the system is more prone to loosening or breakage.
VBT is a new procedure and less data is available on its long-term efficacy compared to spinal fusion.
- Thoracoscopic surgery: involves making small incisions in the chest and using a camera to guide the surgery. It is less invasive than traditional spinal fusion and may allow for a faster recovery.
How long does scoliosis surgery take?
Scoliosis surgery is the most complex procedure in spinal surgery and puts the body in a significant stress situation. The duration of the surgical procedure varies depending on the procedure, the severity of the scoliosis, the extent of the surgery, and the experience and expertise of the surgeon, but generally it can last between 4 and 8 hours.
At BSI we are experts in scoliosis corrective surgery for patients of all ages. Our team will work with the patient (and their family members) to prepare them for and optimise their health prior to surgery.
Will I have pain after scoliosis surgery?
Scoliosis surgery is the most complex procedure in spine surgery and involves putting the body under stress.
The patient usually presents pain of greater intensity during the first 48-72 hours, improving progressively over the following days. We have protocols and pain management specialists to ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible after the operation.
How long will I be admitted to hospital after scoliosis surgery?
Generally, hospital admission will be between 6 and 10 days, but it will depend on several factors such as the duration and extent of the surgery, the patient’s recovery and mobility, or hospital protocols.
What is the recovery like after scoliosis surgery?
Full recovery after scoliosis surgery usually requires 6 to 12 months of postoperative care.
After leaving the hospital, the patient is independent for basic activities of daily living such as walking and strolling, personal hygiene, etc. However, 2 to 3 weeks are usually required to recover from the effort and stress to which the body is subjected in a surgery of this magnitude.
After two weeks, an initial follow-up visit is made, mainly to check the surgical wound and remove stitches, if necessary.
The next follow-up visit is 6 weeks after surgery. For this visit, a radiological control (telemetry or scoliogram of the entire spine) will be carried out beforehand to check the progress of the surgical correction and the placement of the instrumentation. The surgeon may indicate some gentle exercises, which can be started until the next check-up. It is then that many patients can begin to return to school or work, preferably gradually.
The next follow-up visit is 12 weeks after the operation, also with a previous radiological check-up. At this point, the bone has already begun to fuse and, depending on the patient’s evolution, the surgeon may authorise higher intensity exercise (swimming, gymnastics, etc.), without yet exposing the patient to contact sports.
The next check-up will be carried out 6 months after surgery, also with telemetry/scoliogram. Normally the body will have achieved spinal fusion and patients can resume their usual sporting activities (running, skiing… even horse riding!).
Finally, two last follow-ups will be carried out one year and two years after surgery to check and ensure that the fusion and correction have been successfully completed.
At BSI we are experts in scoliosis and kyphosis. Our surgeons are members of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), a North American society with more than 50 years of history that leads research and training in the field of spinal deformities worldwide.
Dr. Ferran Pellisé has been Secretary of the SRS since 2019 and the first non-American to hold this position in the entire life of the association. Dr. Sleiman Haddad and Dr. Susana Núñez are also members of the SRS. The team performs more than 100 scoliosis and kyphosis correction surgeries a year; and advises and guides each case in a personalized way.