Tuesday, February, 02, 2010

Scoliosis Surgery

Health Encyclopedia: Scoliosis Surgery

Surgery


The goals of scoliosis surgery are threefold:

  • Straighten the spine as much as possible in a safe manner
  • Balance the torso and pelvic areas
  • Maintain correction

It takes a two-part process to accomplish these goals:

  • Fusing (joining together) the vertebrae along the curve
  • Supporting these fused bones with instrumentation (steel rods, hooks, and other devices) attached to the spine

Many surgical variations exist using different instruments, procedures, and surgical approaches. All of the operations ...

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Expert & Community Posts

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Learning to Walk (Again) at Age 30
By Cynthia Haines , Health Expert

...risk, but due to my advanced age in the world of scoliosis surgery, a very real one). Scoliosis... Read more »

23153
Scoliosis Deserves Special Consideration
By Christina Lasich, MD , Health Expert

The chronic pain from scoliosis deserves special consideration. This skeletal deformity of the... Read more »

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New Feature - Ask the Expert
By John Claude Krusz, PhD, MD , Health Expert

...for fibromyalgia? Full question and answer. 2. Scoliosis from a spinal injury? Full question... Read more »

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Health Guide

Scoliosis: Highlights
...as they are diagnosed with scoliosis.Lung FunctionSerious breathing complications can develop after scoliosis surgery. A study in Spine indicates that patients are at risk for dangerous lung... Read more »
Scoliosis: References
...Spine. 2005;30(18):2039-2044.Yuan N, Fraire JA, Margetis MM, Skaggs DL, Tolo VT, Keens TG. The effect of scoliosis surgery on lung function in the immediate postoperative period. Spine.... Read more »
Scoliosis: Treatment for Adult Scoliosis
for Adult ScoliosisAdults who were surgically treated for scoliosis in their youth are at risk for disk degeneration and spinal fusion failure. In most adults with previous scoliosis,... Read more »
Scoliosis: Causes
CausesIn 80% of patients, the cause of scoliosis is unknown. Such cases are called idiopathic scoliosis. (Idiopathic means without a known cause.) Idiopathic scoliosismay be due to multiple, poorly... Read more »
Scoliosis: Prognosis
PrognosisIn general, the severity of the scoliosis depends on the degree of the curvature and whether it threatens vital organs, specifically the lungs and heart.Mild Scoliosis (less than 20... Read more »

Images

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Signs of scoliosis

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