Spinal deformities can occur for any number of reasons. In some instances, children are born or eventually develop spinal deformities like scoliosis. Adults are more likely to develop deformities because of trauma to the spine or osteoporosis. The objective of surgery is to create a more natural spine curvature and hold the spine in place, which can reduce symptoms.

Correction

Correction is done when there is significant curvature of the spine. Severe curvature can cause a wide range of problems, such as chronic pain and compression of the organs in the thoracic cavity or nerves. The surgeon will remove bone from the vertebrae to correct the spine. The amount of bone removed from each vertebra will vary based on how much correction you need and the type of correction. Deformities like scoliosis might cause the spine to create a "C" or "S" shape. These deformities occur from side to side. Other deformities are kyphosis and lordosis. Kyphosis causes a forward curvature of the thoracic spine, making you hunch over because the natural curvature of the thoracic spine is increased. Lordosis occurs in the cervical or lumbar spine. If it occurs in the cervical spine, it would cause your head to tilt backwards. A similar effect would occur with lordosis of the lumbar spine, causing your upper body to lean back.

Stabilization

Stabilization of the spine is a necessary component of corrective surgery. The objective of stabilization is to maintain the new curvature of the spine that was created through surgery. Fusion of the spine can be done in several ways, depending on the amount of correction. If you are having a fusion, your surgeon will need to use an internal fixation system to keep the area of the spine stable after the surgery. Usually, this consists of screws or rods, but more extensive correction will require a mental cage. Bone, whether human or synthetic, will be added to the internal fixation system to jump-start the bone growth between the vertebrae. The type of bone used will depend on the availability of donor bone and how much is needed. If the surgeon is working on another part of the spine and removing bone, they can simply repurpose this bone for fusion instead of doing a separate surgery in the pelvis to acquire a donor bone. Unfortunately, even with an extensive metal cage, the spine can still curve more, requiring additional surgery later.

Spinal deformities, especially severe or progressive deformities can cause considerable pain and limit mobility. In these instances, surgery is the only option to reduce symptoms associated with spinal deformities. Contact a medical professional for more information on spine deformity surgery.