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Scoliosis Surgery
- Days In Hospital 5 days
- Outside Hospital Stay 15 days
- Success Rate 75%
Minimum Cost
$ 8000
Maximum Cost.
$ 12000
Overview of Scoliosis Surgery in India
Scoliosis is a condition in which the naturally occurring curves of the spine become abnormal. The spine has typically natural curves, but when they bend to the side, they can become problematic. Scoliosis is a spinal deformity in which the spine takes the shape of a ‘C’ or ‘S’ due to these curves. If the curve of the spine exceeds an abnormal range of 40-50 degrees, scoliosis surgery is considered. Scoliosis surgery consists of realigning and fusing the vertebrae. Scoliosis is a type of spinal deformity that requires major surgery and can take months to heal properly. Scoliosis surgery typically has a recovery period of 12 months.
Most scoliosis surgery is a success. 60% to 80% of surgeries yielded positive results. Our scoliosis surgery treatment aims to provide stability to the trunk while reducing the deformity of the spine caused by limiting the progression of the abnormal curves in the spine. Surgical treatment is reserved for severe cases and those that are necessary due to the failure of non-surgical options.
In the early stages, scoliosis is typically treated with braces and physical therapy. However, in later stages, when the scoliosis has a curve greater than 45 degrees, surgery becomes necessary. Scoliosis surgery primarily involves spinal fusion. A spinal fusion is performed to join together the vertebrae by use of metal rods or screws and bone grafts to fix the curvature of the spine. In younger patients, spinal fusions are performed in most cases.
Scoliosis is an irregular side-to-side curve of your spine. Your spine (backbone) naturally has some forward and backwards curve. However, scoliosis is a condition where your spine curves to the left and right, creating a C shape or an S shape.
Most cases of scoliosis are mild, do not cause symptoms and do not require treatment. Severe scoliosis can cause uneven posture and pain. Treatment may include the use of a brace or surgery.
Types of Scoliosis Surgery:
Idiopathic scoliosis
This is the most familiar type. "Idiopathic" means the cause is not known. Research suggests that there is often a family history and a genetic (hereditary) factor.
Congenital scoliosis
This is a rare spine abnormality that can be diagnosed by a healthcare provider at birth. It occurs when vertebrae (the bones that make up your spine) do not form correctly during embryonic development.
Neuromuscular scoliosis
This type occurs because of abnormalities in the muscles and nerves that support your spine. It usually occurs in conjunction with some sort of neurological (nerve) or muscular condition, such as an injury, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or muscular dystrophy.
Procedure:
Anaesthesia: The anaesthesia is administered to patients to minimise pain and discomfort during scoliosis surgery.
Incision: An extended cut is made over the affected area of the spine. The length and placement of the incision may vary depending on the type and severity of scoliosis.
Exposure: The surgeon manipulates muscle and tissue to view the spine.
Correction: The surgeon manoeuvres and uses different techniques and instruments (rods, screws, hooks, or wires) to straighten and realign the spine's curvature.
Fusion: In this step, bone grafts are placed between the vertebrae, providing fusion and stability. Bone grafts can be taken from the patient's body or another person's body. Sometimes, an artificial implant made of synthetic material can be used as an alternative to bone grafts.
Instrumentation: The appropriate instrumentation, based on the requirements of the patients, such as rods and screws is attached to the spine to provide additional stability and maintain the proper posture and curves of the spine.
Closure: The surgeon will close the incision using sutures. Dressings with medications will also be applied to help reduce the risk of infections.
Recovery: Patients are given pain medications and blood thinners to reduce complications and expedite their recovery after surgery.
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Cost of Scoliosis Surgery in India
The average cost of scoliosis surgery in India is approximately $8,000 to $12,000. The success rate of scoliosis surgery depends on many factors such as the curvature of the spine, the medical condition of the patient, the age of the patient, the hospital where the surgery is performed, and the surgeon performing the surgery.
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Indications of Scoliosis Surgery:
Scoliosis Causes
Several reasons can lead to scoliosis, most of which are not yet understood. Some of the possible causes are as follows:
- Genetics - About 30% of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis have a family history of the condition.
- Neuromuscular scoliosis is caused by a neurological system disorder impacting the muscles, such as muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, and polio.
- Congenital scoliosis is a birth defect characterised by abnormalities in the developing rib cage or spine bones.
- Infections, injuries, or other diseases affecting the spine.
- Abnormalities of the spinal cord.
Scoliosis Symptoms
- If there is compression on the nerves that arise in the lumbar spine, it can cause pain, numbness and weakness.
- Loss of height
- An uneven waist caused by pelvic and hip misalignment
- Prominent ribs to one side
- Tilted uneven shoulders, which result in one shoulder blade being more prominent than the other, since the heights are unequal
- One hip is slightly higher than the other
- The back is bulged or shows deformity.
The following are the standard steps performed when diagnosing scoliosis:
Physical Assessment
On a physical assessment, the clinician will inspect the patient's spine for asymmetry and curvature.
Adam's Forward Bend Test
The clinician will often have the person with scoliosis bend forward at their waist while seeing the spine from the back. This positioning enables the doctor to view the spine's curvature more accurately.
Measurement of Spinal Curvature
To assess the severity of the scoliosis, the clinician will use a scoliometer. The scoliometer measures the Cobb angle, which health professionals measure on X-rays.
X-Rays
X-rays of the spine are most typically used to confirm the diagnosis of scoliosis, assess the degree of curvature, and evaluate the structure of the spine.
Additional Imaging Studies
Imaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans, can be used to examine the spinal structures in more detail and can also indicate spinal cord compression or other abnormalities.
Risk Factors:
Here are some risk factors associated with worsening scoliosis:
- Excess weight - Being overweight places an abnormal load on the back.
- Smoking - Smoking impedes blood flow to the spine and denies the back the potential nutrients required to stay healthy.
- Large lateral curve - With a greater Cobb angle, the lateral curve of the spine is more likely to worsen in severity.
- Gender - Due to spinal curve, women are over 7 times likely than men to develop moderate or severe scoliosis.
- Curvature of the thoracic spine - The thoracic curve, or the upper back, is more likely to progress than the curve of the lumbar spine.
- Substantial skeletal growth remaining - For an adolescent with significant skeletal growth remaining, the likelihood of the lateral curve(s) growing and getting worse is much greater.