Scoliosis

Treatment Options

For those who have already reached skeletal maturity, the considerations and goals of treatment are somewhat different than those whose bones are not yet fully formed. There are a variety of options for treating adult scoliosis, including surgery. However, most surgeons view surgery as a last resort, and usually recommend non-surgical treatment, such as medication, exercise, physical therapy and/or bracing as the first line of defense against the pain and physical symptoms that may accompany a curved spine.

Spine surgery for scoliosis is a major undertaking for adults, and the likelihood of post-surgical complications following spinal surgery for adult scoliosis tends to increase with age. With advancing age, degenerative changes may lead to stiffening of the spine, making it less amenable to realignment and correction. If osteoporosis is a factor, as it frequently is for people - especially women - over age 65, it may be difficult for surgeons to successfully attach the instrumentation required for the surgical procedure to the vertebral bodies. Your surgeon may consider surgical correction if:

• You’re experiencing chronic, debilitating pain that has failed to respond to conservative treatment;
• If your curve has contributed to the development of spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal that causes pressure on the spinal cord);
• If physical deformity has become unbearable to you for other physical or aesthetic reasons;
• Your spinal curve continues to get worse, and has progressed to more than 40-45 degrees. (For curves above 60 degrees, the twisting of the torso can lead to more serious lung and heart conditions.); and
• If you have progressive, neurological changes such as numbness, tingling or weakness, or decreased tolerance for walking. (This may indicate neurocompressive disease in addition to spinal curvature.)

Surgical goals for treating adult scoliosis typically include:

• Reducing the curve (straightening the spine as much as possible);
• Stopping the progression of the curve;
• Removing pressure from the nerves and spinal cord; and
• Protecting the nerves and spinal cord from further damage.
• In older patients, allowing nerve decompression to improve neurological function of the lower extremities.

Toward this end, your spine surgeon may recommend spinal fusion, the goal of which is to correct the spinal deformity as much as possible and fuse, or join together, the vertebrae in the curve to be corrected. The procedure involves approaching the spine either from the front (anterior approach), the back (posterior approach) or both. Your procedure may be minimally invasive, and/or also involve a discectomy (removal of disc material, a procedure that may be included in an anterior approach) to relieve pressure on the spinal cord. The decision to treat adult scoliosis surgically requires careful consideration between you and your doctor. Factors to be considered include your specific condition and overall physical health. Discuss your condition thoroughly with your doctor, and rely on his or her judgment regarding which treatment option is most appropriate.