Key Highlights
- Scoliosis surgery, like spinal fusion, comes with many risks. You can have these problems soon after or years later. Some of the risks are infection and hardware not working right.
- It is very important to know the risks of early onset scoliosis surgery before you, your child, or anyone in your family makes a plan for the problem with the spine. A good candidate for scoliosis surgery is generally someone whose spinal curve is severe or rapidly progressing, or who experiences significant back pain or other symptoms that do not improve with non-surgical treatments. Surgery may also be considered if the spinal curvature starts to affect breathing or daily activities. It is always important to discuss options thoroughly with your doctor before making a decision.
- A lot of people feel back pain and feel worried that the curve could get worse. This makes them think about getting surgery.
- There are also good non-surgical options that work well, like the ScoliSMART Boot Camp and new reflexive response rehab. These treatments can help with scoliosis and do not need surgery. For those who do undergo scoliosis surgery, recovery usually takes several months. Most patients can return to school or work within 4 to 6 weeks, but full recovery and resuming all activities can take 6 to 12 months.
- Over time, surgery can lead to problems like not being as flexible, the curve getting worse, and mental stress about how the body looks.
Introduction
If you or someone you care about has been told they have scoliosis, including neuromuscular scoliosis, you know how hard it can be to figure out the best treatment options. Scoliosis makes the spine curve to the side, and many people think surgery is the only answer. But having surgery is a big step and comes with many risks. It is important to look at all your treatment options before you decide. These options can include things like chiropractic care.
Scoliosis surgery differs for children compared to adults mainly because children’s bodies are still growing. Surgeons must consider the impact of surgery on spinal growth and development in younger patients, whereas adults have stopped growing and the focus is often more on correcting the curve and relieving symptoms. This makes it important to consult a specialist for age-specific advice.
While going to a chiropractor might help with pain and help make you feel looser, it does not fix the curve in your spine by itself. The research does not show that chiropractic care can correct scoliosis without surgery, such as vertebral body tethering. If you do undergo scoliosis surgery, follow-up care typically includes regular check-ups with your surgeon to monitor healing, physical therapy to regain strength and mobility, and careful attention to activity restrictions during recovery. Your care team may also provide guidance on pain management and help you gradually return to normal activities. This guide will help you learn about the risks of scoliosis surgery.
INTERVIEW: 16 year old Reese from South Carolina talks about “Skipping Scoliosis Surgery” and shares her story with the Scoliosis Boot Camp program by ScoliSMART Clinics.
Understanding Scoliosis Surgery and Its Purpose
Scoliosis surgery is a big surgery that helps fix a curve in the spine, including cases of congenital scoliosis. The main surgical treatment for idiopathic scoliosis is called spinal fusion. In this surgery, two or more bones in the spine are joined together so they do not move anymore. Doctors do this to stop the curve from getting worse, to make the curve better, and to help with pain. Your doctor will look at how bad the curve is and how healthy you are to make a plan for you.
Surgery can help some people. But it is a big step that needs cutting into the body. You will also have a longer recovery process time to heal. Before you say yes to surgery, you have to think about the good things and the bad things. You should know what happens during the surgery. This can help you make a choice that is best for your quality of life. Now, let’s see why people think about surgery and what ways doctors use to do it.
People often choose surgery when back pain gets so bad that it makes it hard for them to live their daily life. Sometimes, the curvature of the spine can get much worse, especially in the middle of the back. This can change the way someone holds their body or moves. It can also lower their quality of life.
Another main worry is that the curve in the spine may get worse. If the curve keeps getting more sharp, it can cause serious health problems. A big reason for going with surgery is the chance that the curve will keep getting worse, if things like braces or therapy do not work well. The risk of the curve getting worse makes people and doctors think about surgery when other ways do not give good results, allowing for much growth if surgery is not the first option.
Surgery can help people with severe scoliosis by correcting the curvature of your spine. But, you may ask if it is the only choice. A lot of people think, “Can severe scoliosis be managed without surgery?” The answer is often yes. With the right care and a non-surgical plan, it can be done.
Overview of Surgical Techniques Used in the United States
In the United States, spinal fusion, specifically posterior spinal fusion, is the surgery doctors use most to treat scoliosis. This operation uses metal rods, screws, and bone grafts. The goal is to join several vertebrae so the spine is straight and works as one solid bone. Doctors can do these procedures in different ways to reach the spinal canal.
Each way to do surgery comes with things you have to think about, including options like an anterior approach. Some types of surgery can be more invasive, and this may change how long people need to recover. It can also cause other potential complications. There are now non-fusion scoliosis surgery choices, too. These new surgeries try to fix the curve but let the spine keep more of its normal movement compared to the usual surgeries.
Exploring Non-Surgical Alternatives to Scoliosis Surgery
Before you choose to have surgery, you should look at non-surgical treatments for scoliosis. A lot of people feel relief from back pain and can handle their scoliosis without surgery. There are choices like physical therapy made just for you and new types of bracing. These focus on making your body stronger and training it to help keep your spine straighter, possibly reducing the need for surgery that involves small incisions.
These treatment options, including vertebral body stapling, can help make your health better without the risks you get with surgery. If you want to read more about this, the book “Skipping Scoliosis Surgery: Your Guide to Non-Surgical Solutions” is a great place to start. Now, let’s take a look at some of the best non-surgical treatments out there.
Scoliosis Boot Camp, Physical Therapy, and ScoliSMART Activity Suit
A proactive, non-surgical treatment for scoliosis can really help. The ScoliSMART Boot Camp is a special program made to help your brain and muscles work together. It helps to fix your posture and lower your spinal curve in a natural way. This is not like regular physical therapy, as it includes exercises made just for scoliosis.
The ScoliSMART Activity Suit is an important tool in this program. You wear this device, and it helps your body make new muscle memory. It helps you keep better posture during the day. The boot camp puts several helpful plans together.
- Do exercises that help make your core muscles strong and keep all your muscles in balance.
- Try activities that help your body practice better posture.
- Follow tips about what to eat so your bones and muscles stay healthy.
This complete way helps scoliosis patients take charge of their health. It gives them what they need to handle their condition on their own. This is a strong choice for people who want to avoid surgery.
Innovative Bracing, Wearable Devices, and Success Stories
Wearable devices, such as the ScoliSMART Activity Suit, are changing how people manage scoliosis without surgery. They give you real-time feedback and support. These devices help you keep better posture when you do your daily tasks. Many people have used these non-invasive treatments, and their stories show that you can stay active, feel good, and often avoid surgery by using them in your routine, making them the best option for many.
These modern tools can:
- Help you stand and sit better, and feel good about how you look, especially if you are considering an anterior spinal fusion.
- Lessen pain and any feeling of discomfort.
- Help you stand and sit better, and feel good about how you look.
- Help you feel in control of your treatment.
Immediate Risks Associated with Scoliosis Surgery
Surgical treatment aims to help your condition. But the truth is, every surgery has risks. Scoliosis surgery involves potential complications that can happen while the surgery is going on or right after it ends, including the risk of damage to your spinal cord. Some of these include too much bleeding that might need a blood transfusion. There is also the risk of a serious infection after surgery.
It is important to know about these possible risks at your own risk. You should compare them to other options that don’t need surgery. Below, we talk about some of the biggest risks that can happen right away. You need to talk about these with your doctor.
Excessive Bleeding and Blood Transfusion Needs
One of the main risks during spinal surgery is too much bleeding. The spine has many blood vessels around it. A long or complex surgical treatment can make blood loss worse, which can lead to complications such as paralysis of the legs. This is a real concern for any major operation.
If bleeding gets very bad, especially in cases related to contact sports, you might need blood transfusions. This is done to put the lost blood back in your body and help keep your body working right. Getting a blood transfusion is usually safe. But there can still be some small risks, like having an allergic reaction or getting an infection.
Heavy bleeding can happen during spinal fusion surgery. That is why it is so important for the doctor to ask you about your health before you have this type of operation. The people who do your fusion surgery will use a piece of bone to help keep you safe. But there is still a risk for heavy bleeding when you have spinal fusion surgery.
Infection Risk and Steps for Prevention
Any time the skin is cut open during surgery, particularly in an intensive care unit setting, there is a risk of getting an infection. A problem at the spot of a spinal surgery can be very serious. If bacteria get into the wound, it can cause a deep infection. This kind of infection may be hard to treat. Sometimes, you may need to have another surgery to clean the area.
In very bad cases, an infection at the place of surgery can move into the blood, especially in young children. This can lead to sepsis, which puts life in danger. To lower the chance of this, surgeons do many things to stop it from happening.
You will get antibiotics before, during, and after your surgery to help manage your hospital stay. The surgical team works in a clean area to stop germs from getting in. Even with these steps, the risk of infection is still a big thing to think about when you compare surgery to non-surgical options.
Long-Term Impact and Hardware Issues
Spinal fusion surgery can affect your body and your quality of life for a long time after you heal. The metal put in your back to keep your spine steady can cause problems, even years later, similar to concerns following a broken bone. A lot of adults who get spinal fusion or fusion surgery worry about things like the metal breaking or not working right in the future.
The fusion surgery changes the way your spine can move forever. You need to think about how the change can impact your daily life from now on, especially when considering options like a bone bank for grafting. Let’s look at some of the hardware problems and other long-term things that can happen.
Hardware Failure, Corrosion, and Allergic Reactions
Spinal fusion is a way to treat the back of the spine by using metal rods and screws. These parts help keep the bones in place so they can heal and join together. But with time, this metal hardware can cause some trouble. A rod or screw can break or move out of its place. When this happens, it can make you feel pain, and you might need more surgery to fix it.
Metal implants used in spinal fusion can break down over time. This means that tiny pieces of metal can get into your body, similar to how small pieces of bone are used in spinal fusions. As a result, you can feel pain and your body can get swollen. Some people also react to the metals in these implants and this is called metallosis. Metallosis can make you feel bad and cause health problems. These issues that come from the hardware are a big risk you should think about for the long-term after spinal fusion.
Progression of Curvature and Loss of Flexibility
One thing you may not expect about surgery is that it does not always fix the problem for good. Sometimes, the curve of the spine can keep getting worse, even above or below the part of the spine where the bones were joined. There is also a risk called pseudarthrosis. This happens when the bones do not join the way they should. This can cause the back to feel weak and painful for a long time.
The most likely thing to happen after this surgery is losing some movement in your back. When bones in your spine are joined together, that part cannot bend or twist anymore. You may find it hard to join in some sports or do some things you used to enjoy. This change can lower your quality of life. You might see a scar on your back, and your back might look uneven. These things can also have effects on how you feel about yourself. In some cases, pain medication may be prescribed to help manage discomfort during recovery.
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Conclusion
To sum up, scoliosis surgery, as a surgical procedure, can give many benefits. At the same time, you need to know about the possible risks both right after and long after the surgery. Problems like too much bleeding, infection, or even nerve injury can come up. Things like metal parts not working right and the back not moving well anymore can also be an issue. You should look at these risks and see if non-surgery treatments might help just as much without so many problems. If you want to learn more about choices that do not need surgery, try reading “Skipping Scoliosis Surgery: Non-Surgical Solutions,” where you can read about several non-surgical options. The most important thing is to look after your health and make smart choices as you deal with scoliosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can severe scoliosis be managed without surgery?
Yes, many people with severe scoliosis who are at high risk of complications can be helped without surgery. A mix of special exercises, updated braces, and simple changes in daily life can stop severe scoliosis from getting worse. These things can also help lower pain and other problems, so many people will not need an operation even if they are told they have severe scoliosis.
Which non-surgical treatments are most effective for scoliosis?
The best way to treat scoliosis without surgery is to use more than one method. A good scoliosis treatment plan, which may include initial correction techniques, is made just for you. It often includes physical therapy made for scoliosis, like the Schroth Method. It also uses new kinds of braces and special exercise programs. These help train the brain and muscles. This way, you can stand and move better each day.
How does Scoliosis Boot Camp compare to surgical options?
ScoliSMART’s Scoliosis Boot Camp gives you a way to treat scoliosis without surgery. It focuses on helping you fix your spine by training your muscles and reflexes to work better. This way, you do not have to worry about things like infections or hardware failing, such as pedicle screws, which can happen after surgery. It helps you keep your back moving normally. You also feel more in control, as you can manage your scoliosis every day, while doing the things you like.
