Scoliosis & Deformity Correction 

Adult scoliosis is an abnormal curve of the bones in the spine that can twist or rotate to the left or right. This type of scoliosis can occur in adults due to untreated curvature as a child or degenerative spinal conditions like disc degeneration and spinal stenosis.

Approximately seven million people in the United States suffer from scoliosis and the experts at Virginia Spine Institute can offer the least invasive procedures to treat it.

Determining the most appropriate scoliosis treatment first begins with an accurate diagnosis. Adult scoliosis can sometimes be diagnosed just by looking at the back, especially if the curvature is severe and has very obviously changed the structure of the spine. Determining the most appropriate scoliosis treatment first begins with an accurate diagnosis. The best way to identify adult scoliosis, however, is with standing x-rays.

Please consult our surgeons are the Virginia Spine Institute, who are leading scoliosis experts. We will be able to discuss with you the best recommendation whether it be monitoring your curve, a smaller operation, or a necessary reconstructive surgery to give you the best outcome.

A ‘normal’ spine has three natural curves that produce an ‘S’ shape when viewed from the side. These curves help to evenly distribute our body weight and absorb the normal stress we place on our spine every day.

In some instances, however, the spinal curvature may become exaggerated and round forward, creating the appearance of a hump back. This condition is known as kyphosis.

The condition, depending on the severity, can be managed or treated.

Kyphosis can occur in both moderate and severe situations with the latter most often experiencing pain and fatigue if symptoms progress. In moderate or severe kyphosis, a patient can experience pain, weakness, or numbness. Patients can even feel shortness of breath or fatigue due to limitations on the heart and lung.

Flatback syndrome occurs when the low back loses its natural curvature and becomes flat over time in the lumbar spine. With flatback syndrome there is a decreased lordosis and when this occurs the spine becomes unbalanced and the patient will start to lean forward. Symptoms of flatback syndrome often worsen as the day goes on, as the patient tends to lean further and further forward. The severity of symptoms often depends on the amount of curvature present and associated difficulty with standing upright. Patient’s spine will automatically try to compensate for this imbalance by tilting their pelvis, flexing their knees or hips. This imbalance over time can cause muscle fatigue and pain.

Often the degree of flatback deformity worsens with age as there is natural disc degeneration and collapse over time. The goal of this surgery is to restore the normal lordosis; this is done by surgically removing the degenerative discs and replacing them with implants. These implants restore the disc height loss over time and often are hyper-lordotic implants meaning they also restore lordosis. Some examples of these types of surgeries include anterior lumbar interbody fusion and lateral interbody fusion. The surgery also utilizes screws and rods in the back to stabilize the implants and help fuse the spine in a more normal alignment.