Scoliosis Treatment
Scoliosis is a medical term for a spinal condition characterised by sideways curving of the spine. Many people would not need scoliosis treatment at all and rarely they would need surgery. The doctors typically reserve scoliosis surgery for patients suffering from severe scoliosis or those who develop scoliosis at a young age, in infancy. If scoliosis is left untreated in children, the condition may progress and lead to certain complications such as reduced spinal mobility, chronic neck and back pain, and damage to the lungs and heart.
The Spine and Neurosciences Department at Arete Hospitals staff top-notch Spine Specialists in Hyderabad who perform surgeries for scoliosis using advanced technologies. They are experts in both diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis.
Benefits of Scoliosis Surgery
Scoliosis Surgery in Hyderabad is recommended by a spine specialist to treat severe scoliosis which typically progresses over time. It offers the following benefits:
- No further progression of the spinal curve- Scoliosis surgery helps in straightening the spinal curve and prevents the worsening of the spinal curve.
- Reduced cosmetic deformity of the back- Scoliosis surgery can de-rotate the unusual twisting of the spine and even correct the lateral curve by 50-70%. The extent to which the surgery can do so depends upon the flexibility of the patient’s spine. Such changes can help the patient stand up straight and reduce the rib hump at the back.
- Maintained trunk balance- While making any changes in the positioning of the spine, the surgeon will take into account the overall balance of the patient’s trunk. The scoliosis surgery helps maintain the natural front/back curvature of the spine while keeping the legs and hips as even as possible.
What is Scoliosis Surgery?
Scoliosis surgery refers to the operations designed for correcting spinal curvature above 40 degrees.
What Does Scoliosis Surgery Involve?
Scoliosis surgery is performed under general anaesthesia by Best Doctors for Scoliosis Surgery Treatment in Hyderabad at Arete Hospitals. At least one surgical cut at the back is made to see the spine. The surgeon may use a special video camera for assistance in the surgery. Often the surgery lasts for 4-6 hours and could be longer if the curved section of the spine is more.
There are different surgical options to treat severe idiopathic scoliosis, including:
Spinal Fusion Surgery
In this surgery, Spine Surgeon in Hyderabad permanently fuses two or more adjacent vertebrae so that they grow together at the spinal joint and form a non-movable, solid spinal bone. The vertebrae can no longer move independently. A spinal surgeon places pieces of bone or bone-like material in between the two vertebrae. Metal rods, screws, hooks, or wires typically are used to hold that curved section of the spine straight while the new and old bone material gets fused.
Good Candidates
People who have spinal curves exceeding 40 degrees and have reached their skeletal maturity.
People who are suffering from severe scoliosis that causes nerve pain, back pain, increased spinal curvature over time, mobility problems, and damage to cardiovascular or pulmonary systems resulting in troubled breathing.
Advantages
- This surgery has a long-lasting record of safety and efficacy for the treatment of scoliosis.
- Modern surgical techniques and instrumentation like rods, screws, hooks, and/or wires are used to fuse the vertebrae. This enables better Spinal Curvature Correction in Hyderabad and quick recovery than possible with traditional tools and approaches.
- It straightens the spine and prevents the worsening of scoliosis over time.
Expanding Rod Implant Surgery
This surgical option involves the implantation of a growing system- the expanding rod. The spine surgeon anchors a growing rod below and above the curved spine to help correct spine curvature and maintain a straight spine, while the child gets older. After every 6 months or a year, the child needs to undergo another surgery to lengthen the rod and keep it up with the spine’s growth over time. This is done until the child with scoliosis gets a mature spine and becomes a candidate for spinal fusion surgery.
Good Candidates
- Children with idiopathic scoliosis who haven’t reached their age of skeletal maturity.
- Children who have a spinal bend of about 45-50 degrees or higher.
Advantages
- It is performed to delay spinal fusion in children who lack spinal maturity.
- It helps the child patient avoid complications associated with spinal fusion surgery done at a very young age. This is typically in girls of age less than 10 years and boys less than 12 years.
- This surgery helps guide the spine as it grows and prevents the worsening of spinal curvature as the spine matures.
- For expanding the length of the rod after every few months, the child may not need to undergo surgery, a remote control can help.
- The surgery has no impact on the lifespan of the child.
- The physical appearance of the child improves. The hips and shoulders appear more balanced and the rib prominence gets reduced. The child may even look a bit taller.
- The child has an improved range of motion when performing routine, recreational, or athletic activities.
Vertebral Body Tethering Surgery
This growth modulation surgery involves making small cuts in the backside in the area of the spine that curves outward. Through the cuts, the spinal surgeon places metal screws as anchors along the outer edge of the spinal curve. Next, the surgeon threads a flexible, strong cord called a tether through these anchors and tightens it.
The tightening of the cord straightens the spine. As the child grows older and their spine lengthens, the tether helps slow growth on the curved part of the spine. This allows the other side of the spine to catch up with the growth and the spine gets straighter. Both the metal anchors/screws and tether remain attached to the child’s spine for lifelong unless any problem develops.
Good Candidates
- Children with idiopathic scoliosis whose spinal curvature can’t be improved with bracing or those who cannot tolerate bracing.
- Paediatric scoliosis patients who still have not reached their mature height.
- Children aged between 8 and 16 who have strong enough spinal bones to support the metal anchors.
- Children with spinal curving greater than 45 degrees and below 65 degrees.
- Children with idiopathic scoliosis not concerning neurological conditions or another injury or deformity.
- Children with spinal curvature result in cosmetic deformity of their back as well as poor lung functioning.
Contact Arete Hospitals for personalised scoliosis treatment options and consultations.
Advantages
- The surgery is minimally invasive and performed through small incisions.
- As the child advances in age, the child’s spine grows straighter.
- In contrast to spinal fusion surgery, vertebral body tethering surgery allows for greater mobility and flexibility of the child’s spine. It allows for the continued growth of a straight spine.
- It is an advanced, FDA-approved surgery option for treating idiopathic scoliosis and promises early results.
Scoliosis Treatment in Hyderabad may also include bracing, physical therapy, and in severe cases, surgical interventions.
Consult an Orthopaedic Specialist in Hyderabad at Arete Hospitals for personalised care.
Scoliosis Surgery Cost in Hyderabad
The Cost of Scoliosis Surgery in Hyderabad varies depending on factors like the type of surgery (fusion or correction), surgeon's fee, implants used, and post-operative care. Consulting with healthcare providers is recommended for precise pricing.
Risks Associated with Scoliosis Surgery
Spinal surgery to treat scoliosis can have potential risks, which may vary based on the surgical approach being used. The risks include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Nerve damage
- Bowel and bladder problems
- Loss of proper spinal balance
- Failure of spinal bones to properly heal and fuse after spinal fusion surgery
- Failure of instrumentation used in spinal fusion surgery
- Vertebral degeneration in areas adjacent to the spinal fused section
- Need follow-up procedure to repair damaged expanding rods.
1. Will back pain associated with my scoliosis be relieved after surgery?
Immediately after your scoliosis surgery, you can expect to experience more pain than earlier. But the pain resolves usually after a period of a few weeks or months. Most patients report getting relieved from back pain than it was felt before the surgery, after a year of their operation. If you are expecting no backache at all in the future after surgery, it’s unrealistic.
2. How long is the hospital stay after scoliosis surgery?
The length of the recovery period varies for different surgical approaches.
Following a spinal fusion surgery, the patient may need a hospital stay of 1-2 days and have to wait for 4-6 weeks to get back to doing routine activities. For growing rod surgery, the children typically spend 3-5 days in the hospital to recover and return to school within 4 weeks. After vertebral body tethering surgery, the children typically have a hospital stay of 2-3 days. Most patients return to school after 1-3 weeks and resume normal activities in 6 weeks.
Arete Hospitals in Hyderabad offer state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated team of professionals specialising in scoliosis surgeries. With cutting-edge technology and compassionate care, they provide effective solutions for spinal deformities. For comprehensive information, please contact Scoliosis Surgery doctors in Hyderabad. They're experts in treating spinal curvature.
