Scoliosis & Deformity Correction Surgery

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Scoliosis Deformity Correction Surgery: Quick Facts

  • Scoliosis deformity correction is a specialized surgical procedure designed to straighten and stabilize an abnormal curvature of the spine while improving spinal alignment, balance, and overall function. It is typically recommended when scoliosis is severe, progressive, or causing significant symptoms.
  • The procedure may be performed for adolescent or adult scoliosis, kyphosis, or other complex spinal deformities that cause chronic pain, nerve compression, difficulty standing upright, or impaired breathing and mobility.
  • Surgical correction often involves realigning the spine using rods, screws, and other implants. Depending on the patient’s condition, treatment may include spinal fusion, motion-preserving techniques, or other advanced deformity correction procedures.
  • Not every patient with scoliosis requires surgery. A comprehensive evaluation, including a physical examination and standing X-rays, helps determine the severity of the curve, spinal balance, and the most appropriate treatment approach.
  • Recovery includes early mobilization, physical therapy, and a gradual return to daily activities. Recovery timelines vary depending on the complexity of the deformity and the type of procedure performed.
  • For appropriately selected patients, scoliosis deformity correction can reduce pain, improve posture and spinal alignment, restore function, and significantly enhance quality of life.

What is Spinal Reconstruction Surgery?

The goal of spinal reconstruction surgery is to decrease the patient’s pain and to place the spine in a more natural position. This can be accomplished using minimally invasive robot-guided spine surgery which allows our surgeons to precisely create and plan a blueprint for surgery before stepping foot in the operating room.

When correcting a curve or deformity in the spine, we employ minimally invasive techniques and technologies to cause as little disruption as possible to the patient. Surgical tools that we use include robotic guidance, stealth navigation, ultrasonic or laser cutting devices.

Types of Spinal Deformity Surgeries

Adult scoliosis is a spinal deformity where an abnormal curvature in the back is present for adults. Often, this type of deformity will be a curvature to the right or left and sometimes will include a rotational aspect of the spine. In certain patient scenarios, scoliosis reconstructive surgery is discussed to help improve symptoms of pain, numbness or tingling. In other scenarios this type of deformity correction is discussed after the scoliosis has progressed to a certain degree with the goal to halt any further progression of this abnormal curvature.

Adolescent scoliosis is a condition characterized by an abnormal curvature of the spine that typically develops during the growth spurts before puberty. Unlike adult scoliosis, which often results from degenerative changes, adolescent scoliosis usually has no known cause and is termed idiopathic. Early detection and monitoring are crucial, as the condition can progress rapidly during growth periods. Treatment options range from observation and bracing to surgical intervention, depending on the severity of the curve and the patient’s overall health.

Kyphosis correction is one of the several spinal deformity correction surgeries done by the spinal specialists at VSI. Those with a kyphosis deformity often notice a hunchback appearance, when there is increased curvature in the thoracic spine. The goal of this surgical reconstruction surgery is to decrease patients’ symptoms while restoring their spine to a more natural position. Symptoms often include stiffness, pain and in some cases patients will have numbness or tingling.

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.

rachael's surgery xrays

How to Recognize the Need for Spine Correction Surgery

Scoliosis Treatment for Adults

Adult scoliosis often presents with symptoms such as chronic back pain, noticeable spinal deformity, and a gradual loss of height. These symptoms are frequently caused by the degeneration of spinal discs and joints, leading to an abnormal curvature of the spine. Diagnosis typically involves physical examinations, X-rays, and other imaging techniques to assess the severity and progression of the curve. When conservative treatments like physical therapy and pain management fail to alleviate scoliosis symptoms, scoliosis surgery may be recommended to correct the spinal alignment and relieve nerve compression.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Treatment

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis typically manifests as an abnormal curvature of the spine, often detected during growth spurts in puberty. Common scoliosis symptoms include uneven shoulders, a prominent rib cage, and a visible curve in the back. Diagnosis usually involves physical exams and imaging techniques like X-rays to measure the degree of curvature. When the spinal curve is severe and progressive, scoliosis surgery may be necessary to correct the alignment and prevent further complications.

Kyphosis Treatment

Kyphosis is a normal outward curve of the spine but hyperkyphosis, or an enlarged outward curve, is an abnormal curving of the spine that can occur at any age. This may be a source of underlying back pain or a culprit contributing to an abnormal curvature of the spine.

Flatback Correction Treatment

Flatback syndrome is characterized by a loss of the natural lumbar curve, leading to difficulty standing upright and chronic back pain. Symptoms include fatigue, thigh and back pain, and an imbalanced posture. Diagnosis involves physical exams and imaging tests like X-rays to assess the extent of spinal deformity. When flatback syndrome treatments such as physical therapy and pain management are ineffective, surgical intervention may be necessary to restore proper spinal alignment and improve quality of life.

What are the Benefits of Spinal Deformity Surgery?

Scoliosis and deformity corrective surgeries help to realign the spine in patients with abnormal curvatures, as well as:

  • Decreases pain and other symptoms associated with the deformity
  • Prevents progression of deformity
  • Places the spine in a more natural position
  • Decreases numbness and weakness

Is Spine Correction Surgery for you?

Meet with our team of specialized spine doctors to discuss your eligibility for scoliosis surgery, kyphosis surgery, or surgery for flatback syndrome. Let’s discuss the next steps toward obtaining the pain relief you seek.

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Frequently Asked Questions on Spinal Deformity Surgery

Spinal curves that have progressed greater than 45°, or are causing symptoms such as numbness, weakness, or pain, are normally referred to for surgery.

For 12 weeks after scoliosis corrective surgery postoperative restrictions will include no bending, lifting greater than 5lb, or twisting. Avoiding these activities will put less stress across the surgical area as your body continues to heal. The provider will develop a specialized physical therapy plan for each patient. 

After having surgery, especially a scoliosis corrective surgery, it is natural and necessary to take a few weeks off to focus on your body healing. You will have postoperative activity restrictions for 12 weeks after surgery. However, often patients do start to slowly return to some school and work activities prior to 3 months after surgery. Our goal as spinal specialists is to improve your quality of life by treating your spinal deformity. We are seeing our patients often during the postoperative setting and having many conversations to help determine what activities are safe to proceed with and which may need a few more weeks of recovery before restarting.

Corrective surgery for thoracic kyphosis can be recommended starting with curves starting at over 60 degrees. However your surgeon will discuss with you the prognosis and how to monitor your curve if surgery is not indicated.

Often these types of kyphosis deformities are more common in the thoracic spine. The thoracic spine naturally is less mobile than the cervical or lumbar spine due to the rib cage. Also, with this type of deformity patients often already have limited mobility due to the degree of deformity and associated arthritis in those areas. Therefore, people sometimes notice minimal change in their range of motion or even have improved quality of life as their symptoms are no longer limiting their activities.

Surgery may be needed for patients whose deformity is worsening over time, or who have curvatures leading to nerve compression causing symptoms such as numbness, weakness, or pain.