Questions and answers Scoliosis surgery

The goals of scoliosis surgery are to straighten the spine to some degree, to provide a balanced spine, and to achieve a fusion over that area to stop further curvature.

The incision is just as long as the number of vertebrae that will be fused. Discuss this specifically with the surgeon. The appearance of the scar after scoliosis surgery is very dependent upon how your body heals.

Often, the rib prominence is the most cosmetically undesirable part of a scoliotic deformity. The rib prominence is corrected as part of the scoliosis operation. This can be achieved with new technology that derotates the spine. It could also require a procedure called thoracoplasty, where a segment of the rib is removed.