Scoliosis Treatment

Scoliosis is a deviation of the spine that causes a curve. The severity, prognosis, and symptoms will depend on the magnitude of the curve, the age of onset, and the location and characteristics of the lesion. Mild cases of scoliosis may not require treatment, but leaving moderate or severe scoliosis untreated can lead to pain and increased deformity, as well as possible damage to the heart and lungs. Scoliosis consists of lateral curvature and a rotation of the spine. If the curve needs to be corrected, the first option is generally a non-surgical treatment, such as wearing a corset. Scoliosis in some people can be so severe that it requires surgery. However, many scoliosis never progresses to the degree where surgery is necessary.

Who Is This For?

Children or adults who are diagnosed with scoliosis and have a required scoliosis degree for the proper treatment option.

Treatment Duration

4 to 6 hours.

Potential Risks & Side Effects 

• Anesthesia risks

• Hematoma

• Infection

• Neurologic complications

•  Lung complications

• Intestinal blockage

• Blood clots 

Recovery Time

4 to 6 weeks.

Success Rate

75% 

Alternative Treatments

• Physiotherapy

• Sports / Exercising

• Wearing Corset 

How Does It Work?

Treatment for active scoliosis takes place over several years and consists of prolonged physiotherapy, sports, or even wearing an "orthopedic corset" above 30 °. If the curvature of the spine is very large, surgery will be necessary.

What Does Scoliosis Treatment Involve?

1.    Consultation for Scoliosis Treatment

The first step to start your Scoliosis Treatment process will be online consultation. At this stage, our specialist will ask you some questions to define your problem and try to learn your complaints and scoliosis degree first. The main target of this stage is to make sure you are a suitable candidate for surgical or non-surgical scoliosis treatment. Your health history, allergies, medication intakes, previous surgeries, examination and imaging results, diagnosis and your expectations about the process are the most important data at this stage to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for you. The photo of your spine will also be very useful to understand your current status during this online consultation phase.

2.    Planning Your Trip and Choosing the Clinic

Once it is decided that you are eligible for the procedure, it is time to build the best Scoliosis Treatment plan for you. We will prepare and share with you the clinic and surgeons which we determine according to your needs. After you have finished your selection, we proceed to the stage of date determination and detailed adjustments.

3.    Final Consultation with Your Surgeon

When you arrive at the clinic, you will have a face-to-face consultation with your surgeon. He or she will ask you some questions to try to understand your expectations better and also make you understand what you should expect from your Scoliosis Treatment. Your surgeon will explain the methods of the process, the possible risks, and the pre-and post-operative recommendations to make you feel as ready as possible.

4.    Medical Examinations

Before the Scoliosis Treatment process begins, your surgeon will conduct some physical examination, blood test, screening, etc. to make sure that you are in acceptable health status for the procedure. Every patient is required to undergo medical tests to ensure that nothing can hinder the success of the surgery and if any risk is obtained at this stage, surgeons try to eliminate them first.

5.    Surgery

Surgery is indicated only in certain very specific cases. In general, scoliosis in patients who have not yet finished growing is operated on when these curves reach magnitudes greater than 40 degrees. When it comes to people who already have skeletal maturity, and who have already completed their growth phase, they are operated on when they have curves greater than 50 degrees, have a very high degree of pain, and do not have satisfactory results despite having been treated with other techniques.

Scoliosis surgery seeks to straighten the spine and decrease the curvature that this patient has. For this, multiple screws are installed in the column, which is joined to each other through bars. Spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis treatment usually takes four to six hours. The development of new techniques allows reducing the risk of neurological damage since specialists are monitoring during surgery. This procedure is performed after analyzing various factors such as the patient's age, the degree of curvature or deformity of the spine, whether or not there is pain, and the individual's skeletal maturity.

What Happens After Scoliosis Treatment?

Usually, the hospitalization period is 5 to 6 days, but on the third day after surgery, recovery begins. This implies that the patient must get out of bed and walk with help initially. Once at home, the rest period is relative. In patients younger than 25 years, it is usually three weeks. In the case of an older patient, the periods of both hospital stay and recovery may be longer. Resuming a sports activity can take between 4 months and a year, depending on each case.

What Are the Usual Symptoms of Scoliosis?

Viewed from behind, a normal spinal column is straight so that the back appears symmetrical. When there is scoliosis, the spine is curved and one or more of these signs can be seen:

• One hip is higher or bulging than the other.

• One shoulder blade (scapula) is taller than the other.

• One shoulder is higher than the other.

• The head is not centered according to the hips.

• Standing with your arms hanging down, the space between one arm and the trunk is greater on one side than the other.

• By bending forward with your legs stretched out until your back is horizontal, one side is higher or more protruding than the other.

FAQ

What Happens If Scoliosis Is Not Treated?

If left untreated, scoliosis can cause the ribs to come together on one side and separate from the other. This can cause respiratory and heart problems. The deviation can also reduce the space between the intervertebral discs, causing back pain and deformity. 

What Is the Normal Degree of Scoliosis?

Doctors measure the curvature of scoliosis in degrees: A curvature is slight when it does not reach 20 degrees. A curvature is moderate when it is between 25 and 40 degrees. A curvature is severe when it exceeds 50 degrees.

What Are the Symptoms of Scoliosis?

Although the spine of people with scoliosis is curved abnormally, it usually does not cause any symptoms. Some people may have a vague feeling of back pain, stiffness, or muscle strain.

Learn more about Scoliosis Treatment in Turkey by comparing costs and reviewing the clinics and doctors.