Minimally Invasive Scoliosis Surgery for Children

Your child might need surgery if their spine has a severe curve. This is a curve of at least 40 degrees. Or your child may need surgery in the future if other treatments, such as bracing, don’t keep the curve from getting worse. Children who have only mild curves are not likely to need surgery. Your child’s healthcare provider will keep track of your child’s spine as they grow.

Surgery is the only treatment that can make the spine straight. It can correct posture and reduce or relieve pain.

If you are thinking about scoliosis surgery for your child, ask the healthcare provider if a minimally invasive method might make sense for your child. Minimally invasive scoliosis surgery can cause less harm to back muscles and other nearby tissues. It also uses smaller incisions. This can lead to less pain and a shorter recovery after surgery.

Your child might not be able to have minimally invasive scoliosis surgery if their curve is very severe.

Talk with your child's healthcare provider about how to prepare your child for surgery. Tell the healthcare provider about all the medicines your child takes. This includes over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin. Your child may need to stop taking some medicines ahead of time.

Before the surgery, your child may need imaging tests. These may include X-rays or MRI.

Have your child follow any instructions on not eating or drinking before surgery. Tell your child's healthcare provider about any recent changes in your child’s health, such as a fever. Follow any other instructions the healthcare provider gives you before the surgery.

The procedure is done by an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon. They can help explain the details of your child's surgery. A typical surgery may go like this:

1. Your child may be given general anesthesia. This is to stop pain and cause your child to sleep during the surgery.
2. In some cases, your child might have a type of anesthesia that numbs only part of their body. Your child will get a medicine so that they will be very relaxed but awake during the surgery. Your child may be given antibiotics before and after the procedure to help prevent infection.
3. A healthcare provider will carefully watch your child's vital signs, like heart rate and blood pressure.
4. During the procedure, your child's surgeon will use a special type of continuous X-ray to view your child’s spine.
5. The surgeon will make several small incisions on your child's back.
6. Your child's surgeon will insert a tubular retractor into this incision. This will expose the area of the spine with the problem.
7. The surgeon will pass special small tools through this retractor, including a tiny camera and a light.
8. The surgeon will partially straighten the spine. This is done using screws, rods, and wires.
9. In some cases, the surgeon might use a bone graft to complete the repair. Bone is used from your child’s hip or from a donor.
10. The tools and tube will be removed.
11. Your child's incisions will be closed. A small bandage will be put on the wound.

Your child will probably need to stay in the hospital for a few days or so after the surgery. Your child will likely have pain after the surgery. This is treated with pain medicine. Talk with your child’s surgeon about any over-the-counter pain medicines you can give your child. In most cases, the pain goes away fairly quickly. Your child can eat a normal diet as soon as they are able.

Some fluid may leak from your child’s incision. This is normal. Tell the surgeon right away if there is a lot of fluid, or if your child has a lot of pain, chills, or a fever. Call 911 if your child has severe symptoms such as trouble breathing, chest pain, numbness, weakness, or severe headache.

The surgeon will give you instructions about how your child can use their back right after the surgery. Your child might need to limit movement that involves a lot of lifting or bending.

The surgeon can let you know how long to expect your child’s recovery will be. Your child may be able to return to school in a week or two. It may take several months before your child can resume all of their normal activities. Over time, your child should be able to return to most activities. Check with your child’s healthcare provider first.

Follow all of the surgeon's instructions about your child’s treatment and follow-up appointments. Your child will likely still have a slight curve in their spine after the surgery, but this should no longer be very noticeable. The surgeon will closely monitor your child to make sure the surgery was successful.