Benefits and Risks – Scoliosis Surgery

Benefits

Surgery is an option used primarily for severe scoliosis (curves greater than 45 degrees) or for curves that do not respond to bracing. There are two primary benefits of successful scoliosis surgery:

• To stop a curve from progressing
• To reduce rib prominence and diminish spinal deformity

Risks

All treatment and outcome results are specific to the individual patient. Results may vary. Complications such as infection, nerve damage, blood loss, and bowel and bladder problems are some of the potential risks of any type of spinal surgery, including spinal fusion for the treatment of scoliosis.

Additional complications that may be associated with scoliosis surgery include loss of proper spinal balance, failure, of the bones to properly heal and fuse (pseudoarthrosis), instrumentation failure and vertebral degeneration in the levels adjacent to the fused section.

Please consult your doctor for a complete list of indications, warnings, precautions, adverse effects, clinical results, and other important medical information that pertains to scoliosis surgery.

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