Minimally invasive fusionless posterior-approach surgery to correct idiopathic scoliosis in children and young people
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Description:
Scoliosis means the spine is curved to the side. It usually starts in childhood and there is usually no known cause (idiopathic). In some people, it can worsen during times of rapid growth, which can cause a severe curve of the spine and can cause problems with the ribs. This can result in significant cosmetic and lung problems, and chronic pain.
In this procedure, under a general anaesthetic, a self-adjusting rod is inserted along the spine through a small cut (minimally invasive) in the back (posterior approach). It is attached to the spine using screws. The rod is lengthened during the operation to straighten the spine. Afterwards, people are given exercises to do to help continue lengthening the rod. The aim is to correct the spinal curve without the need to fuse bones in the spine (fusionless), which is a major operation, and to keep flexibility in the spine.
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