Correction of spinal deformities
The problems associated with spinal deformities in adults vary and include changes in appearance, back pain, sciatica, imbalance and difficulty walking long distances.
Surgical intervention is a central procedure in treatment that requires careful planning
The correction of the deformity may be required in situations where there is functional deterioration that affects day-to-day activity and sometimes if nerves or the function of the spinal cord are threatened. Due to the scope of the surgery, the hospital stay is a week or more and older people will need rehabilitation.
Deformation surgery is complex and usually takes many hours, especially in adults when the spine can be quite stiff.
The basis of these procedures is the release of the spine by removing the joints between the vertebrae and opening and stabilizing the intervertebral discs with implants.
In this way, the areas where nerves may be stressed are released which results in relief of nerve pain.
Finally, the correction of the deformity and stabilization of the spine is achieved with screws and implants that are inserted into the disc space without the vertebrae in order to stabilize the spine and allow connection in the new normal position.
These surgeries can be performed by using different surgical techniques, such as anterior and lateral surgical approaches to the spine and in some cases, bone wedges (osteotomies) are taken that allow the restoration of the normal spine position.
During this type of surgery, a variety of technologies are used as needed, such as computer-assisted surgery and "navigating" the implants into place, monitoring spinal cord function, and collecting blood for re-injection.