When is Scoliosis Surgery Necessary?

To date, the bulk of the information you will find related to Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) on the Internet supports the use of back bracing and scoliosis surgery. Initially, treatment from a medical doctor consists of "observation only", until the Cobb angle progresses to 25 degrees, at which point the patient is placed in a scoliosis brace. When back bracing is unsuccessful in stabilizing the progression of the disease, which is frequently the case, scoliosis surgery is the only other option that the medical community has to offer.

Due to the complicated nature of idiopathic scoliosis and the difficulty in understanding and treating this condition, the development of a surgical method of treating idiopathic scoliosis by Dr. Harrington was understandable. However, science, & long term research agree that this procedure does not cure idiopathic scoliosis, but rather replaces one deformity (a flexible, curved spine) with another (a straighter, fused spine).

A majority of people we see, who have been treated with scoliosis surgery, report after the operation that their pain levels either stayed the same or worsened, leading to long term use of stronger and stronger pain medication. "On average, 16 years after surgery, 40% of surgery patient are permanently handicapped for the rest of their lives" (Long-term results of quality of life in patients with idiopathic scoliosis after Harrington instrumentation and their relevance for expert evidence. Gotze C, Slomka A, Gotze HG, Potsl W, Liljenqvist U, Stienbeck J. Z Orthop Ihre Grensgeb 2002 Sep-Oct, 140(5): 492-8).

We believe that surgery for scoliosis, while potentially necessary at times for very large spinal curvatures, is only symptomatic/cosmetic procedure for a much more complex condition. Hardware failure does occur, and poses a very serious health risk for the patient and results in the obvious need for further scoliosis surgery. Furthermore, after looking at the hardware removed from patients, it has been revealed that two out of three demonstrate significant corrosion, (Corrosion of spinal implants retrieved from patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Akazawa T, Minami S, Takahashi K, Hanawa T, Moriya H. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. J Orthop Sci. 2005; 10(2):200-5. "Corrosion was seen on many of the rod junctions (66.2%) after long term implantation"), which can cause heavy metal toxicity, depression of the immune response, and chronic inflammation.

"The current trend for management of these curves is early surgical intervention for scoliosis, the rationale being the ineffectiveness of back bracing in preventing the progression of such a large curve and the difficulty in obtaining satisfactory correction by postponing scoliosis surgery to a later date. On the basis of our results, we propose a conservative line of management for these curves, in contrast with current views, rather than to rush into a major spine surgery. If the curve progresses, scoliosis surgery can always be considered later, keeping in mind the excellent correction obtained with the pedicle screw systems even for large curves of 70 to 100 degrees."

~ A large adolescent idiopathic scoliosis curve in a skeletally immature patient: is early surgery the correct approach? Overview of available evidence.

Telang SS, Suh SW, Song HR, Vaidya SV. Department of orthopedics, Korea University, Guro Hospital, Guro-Dong, Guro-Gu, Seoul, Korea.

J Spinal Disord Tech. 2006 Oct;19(7):534-40.

"Correction of scoliosis (scoliosis surgery) is largely an elective cosmetic procedure in the young population, who account for the largest portion of the scoliosis surgery population. Associated with the correction, however, is a very real possibility of major neurological injury, including paralysis."

Tod B. Sloan MD, PhD

Anesthesiology Clinics of North America

Volume 15, Issue 3, 1 September 1997, Pages 573-592

After understanding these facts and considering the other complications involved with this procedure, you can see why we believe that scoliosis surgery should be a last resort for

the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis, to be considered only after every other non-invasive treatment option has been thoroughly exhausted.

http://www.treatingscoliosis.com/scoliosis-surgery.html

About Dr Kevin Lau

Dr Kevin Lau DC is the founder of Health In Your Hands, a series of tools for Scoliosis prevention and treatment. The set includes his book Your Plan for Natural Scoliosis Prevention and Treatment, a companion Scoliosis Exercises for Prevention and Correction DVD and the innovative new iPhone application ScolioTrack. Dr Kevin Lau D.C. is a graduate in Doctor of Chiropractic from RMIT University in Melbourne Australia and Masters in Holistic Nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health in USA. In 2006 I was awarded the "Best Health-care Provider Awards" by the largest Newspaper publication in Singapore on October 18 2006 as well as being interviewed on Primetime Channel News Asia as well as other TV and Radio. For more information on Dr Kevin Lau, watch his interviews or get a free sneak peek of his book, go to: http://www.hiyh.info.