Scoliosis Surgery: Symptoms, Classification, Diagnosis & Recovery

Lumbar scoliosis treatment mostly involves the use of medications, exercises, and braces. Several types of braces are available to support the spine and correct its curvature. These braces are supposed to be worn 24 hours a day, except when bathing.

You may need to make certain preparations before scoliosis surgery, which is performed only in the case of severe scoliosis. A spinal fusion surgery is recommended when all other non-surgical alternatives fail to correct or improve the curvature of the spine.

If you have been advised to undergo scoliosis surgery, make sure to do the following:

• Talk to your surgeon about the surgery. Know what to expect and what the recovery phase would be like.
• Stop smoking at least a few weeks before the surgery.
• Undergo the tests advised by the doctor. This may include an X-ray, renal sonogram, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), myelogram, echocardiogram, and CAT scan.
• Have nothing after midnight before the surgery. You can have clear fluids until morning but make sure to stop having them at least four to five hours before the surgery. This surgery is performed on an empty stomach and the bowel and bladder should be clear as well.
• Take medications as advised by the doctor. Stop taking blood-thinning medications if advised by the doctor.

There are three approaches or types of scoliosis surgery. Out of these, spinal fusion is the most common procedure.

• Rod placement: In this approach, rods of specific length are placed in the back of the child with scoliosis. These rods are anchored to the spine, which helps maintain the spine curvature as the child grows. However, a surgery is required every six months to one year to correct the length of the rods as per the increased length of the spine. Once the child has reached a stage where the spine is matured, spinal fusion can be conducted. Fusing the vertebrae as an age where the body development is still taking place may lead to a disproportionate body and less room for specific organs such as lungs.
• Fusionless surgery: In this approach, a constant pressure is built on the outer side of the spinal curve to stop or delay its development. As a result, the growth is restricted in the abnormally curved part of the spine, while the inner part continues to grow normally. Over a period of time, the spine achieves the normal curvature. This approach has several potential benefits over spinal fusion and may lead to greater stability but it is a newer approach with limited clinical data backing its use.
• Spinal fusion: This is the most common approach used to treat scoliosis. During this procedure, two or more adjacent vertebrae are fused to form a single bone that is no longer flexible. This procedure is highly effective and safe and this is the reason why surgeons recommend patients to undergo this surgery for long-term relief.

The patient is expected to move around in two or three days after the surgery. But total stay in the hospital can range from four to seven days. Children can resume going to school after two to four weeks of the surgery.

Physical activity has to be highly limited to keep the spine immobile allowing better fusion. Bending twisting, or lifting will be restricted for the first three months. Surgeons recommend wearing braces for a few months during the scoliosis surgery recovery.

Patients will be occasionally monitored with intermittent X rays even after one to two years until the bone fuses completely and becomes solid. Female patients can undergo normal delivery after undergoing the surgery.