Surgical referral
Advanced or highly progressive scoliosis curves often require surgical consultation and management.
In some cases, surgery is the only option to prevent a scoliosis worsening to a detrimental degree. In other cases, surgical consultation may be recommended prior to starting a non-surgical treatment.
The main reasons to consider a scoliosis surgery are:
1) When a scoliosis curve is large and surgical intervention is required to stop it progressing further.
2) When the patient is very concerned about how they look because of the scoliosis, and correction cannot be acheived non-surgically
3) In severe cases to preserve lung function.
Surgeons assess the patient and their x-rays, CT or MRI scans. Scoliosis surgery often involves fusing the bones of the spine or rods might be inserted to hold the spine straight. New approaches such as tethering also may be an option.
ScoliCare’s approach to finding the best scoliosis treatment for each patient is to start with accurate assessment, and then to discuss treatment options with patients and their family. The ScoliCare team works with scoliosis surgeons to co-manage surgical cases, and will recommend surgical referral where appropriate.
Preventing or delaying scoliosis surgery
While surgery may be the best option for some cases, it is also possible in some cases to prevent or delay scoliosis surgery.
The reason for attempting to delay a surgery is usually in cases of children and teens who are still growing. Scoliosis surgery halts spinal growth, so allowing the patient to achieve their maximum height before operating is preferable.
Scoliosis bracing has been shown to be effective in preventing most progressive adolescent cases from needing surgery[1]. In large curves, and highly progressive cases that already require surgery, bracing can halt the scoliosis from worsening which the patient’s spine grows to maximum height. Then surgery to reduce these large curves and restore the alignment of the patient’s spine can proceed.
Success stories
from our clinics
We’d like to thank our patients for their permission to use their images and results in our case studies. These studies are not to be reproduced without written permission from ScoliCare.
Case – Scoliosis Specific Exercise (18 year old female)
Reduction of a scoliosis in a young adult using ScoliBalance (Scoliosis Specific Exercise Rehabilitation)Case – Juvenile Bracing (7 year old patient)
Patient aged 7 years with scoliosis thoracic curve measured at 32° and lumbar curve measured at 27° In-brace correction achieved with a custom 3D designed scoliosis brace compared with a standard TLSO in a juvenile scoliosis patient Summary: This case demonstrates the effect of a custom 3D designed scoliosis orthosis…
Case – Adult Bracing (78 year old female)
78 year old female patient with progressive idiopathic scoliosis into adulthood. Summary: This case highlights improvements in pain, function and postural deformity in a 78-year-old patient using a custom 3D designed low profile scoliosis orthosis combined with physiotherapeutic scoliosis specific exercises. The patient presented with a 25 degree right-sided lumbar…
Case – Infantile Bracing (3 year old female)
Female patient aged 3 years with an infantile scoliosis. Treatment of an infantile scoliosis using a custom 3D designed scoliosis brace. Summary: This case demonstrates the treatment of a moderate sized infantile scoliosis using a custom 3D designed rigid scoliosis orthosis in a 3-year-old female patient. The patient’s scoliosis had initially…
Case – Adult Bracing (56 year old female)
56 year old female patient with de novo degenerative scoliosis. Postural improvement, improved mobility and reduced pain in a female patient with de novo degenerative scoliosis using a 3D designed custom brace Summary: This case demonstrates the successful management of a patient with de novo degenerative scoliosis. The patient presented…
Case – Adolescent Bracing (14 year old female)
Reduction of a severe scoliosis in a young female gymnast using a 3D custom brace and ScoliBalance program.Case – Adolescent Bracing (14 year old male)
Male patient aged 14 years with a right thoracic curve measured at 49 degrees. Reduction of a severe scoliosis using a custom 3D over-corrective scoliosis brace and scoliosis specific rehabilitation in a 14-year-old male Summary: This case demonstrates the management of a young male athlete with a severe scoliosis using…
Case – Kyphosis Bracing (16 year old female)
Reduction of a Hyper-kyphosis in a 16-year-old female patient using a 3D designed kyphosis brace Case Background The patient presented to the ScoliCare clinic at 14 years of age with postural deformity and pain in the middle back. Examination Findings The patient was a pre-menarchal teenager who reported pain across…
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