Adult Degenerative Scoliosis Surgery
Adult degenerative scoliosis is a type of scoliosis that occurs as a result of aging and wear and tear of the spine structure. It usually occurs in people over the age of 50. Osteoporosis, which also occurs at this age, maybe one of the causes of adult degenerative scoliosis, as well as an increase in curvature. Osteoporosis is a disease that occurs with the decrease of calcium in the bones, also known as osteoporosis among people.
In Which Regions Are Degenerative Scoliosis Most Common?
Degenerative scoliosis that occurs with wear can be seen in any of the necks, back, and waist regions of the spine; However, the most common area is the waist region.
The stability and balance of the spine may be impaired in people with advanced adult degenerative scoliosis. This disorder may cause the trunk to tilt to the side with the spine in the foreground and background, and the trunk to lean forward with the decrease in the anatomical angle of the lumbar region. Scoliosis surgery
These imbalances can cause an increase in the severity of the curvature, as well as affect the patient’s mobility and cause pain.
In adult patients with degenerative scoliosis, back pain, low back pain, and pain along the distribution area of the nerve (radiculopathy) due to nerve compression and loss of strength in the muscles supplied by the nerve can be observed. In some cases, as a result of excessive deformation of the spine and being under load, one of the spines may slide forward, backward, or to the side.
In these deformities that may occur in the spinal structure in addition to adult degenerative scoliosis, the forward shift of the spinal bone is called spondylolysis, the backward slippage is called retrolisthesis, and the lateral shift is called lateral lystesis. Bone shifts in the spine structure can cause pain, as well as leg pain and muscle weakness due to nerve or spinal cord compression.
What kind of treatment is applied in adult scoliosis?
The method to be chosen in the treatment of adult scoliosis is decided according to the degree of pain and curvature, and whether the curvature is progressive or not. Generally, the first treatment methods to be applied to the patient are non-surgical treatment methods. Exercises to increase physical condition, stabilization, strengthening, and stretching exercises, accompanied by a physiotherapist, can relieve muscle spasms and reduce pain. However, it has not been fully demonstrated that these exercises have a role in preventing the progression of progressive scoliosis.
When is Surgery Necessary in Adult Scoliosis?
In adult scoliosis, pain, loss of function, and balance are more prominent than the degree of curvature and the deformity problems caused by it. However, although it is painless, surgery may be necessary to stop the further progression of scoliosis that has clearly progressed.
Scoliosis surgery may be an important alternative method for patients who do not respond to treatment despite all non-surgical methods, whose pain increases during this period (between 6 weeks and 6 months), and who suffer from a disability. In addition to curvature, if patients have a loss of urine, defecation control, or loss of muscle strength due to severe narrow canal or nerve pressure, scoliosis surgery can be treated with scoliosis surgery.
Adult scoliosis surgery is more challenging than pediatric and young age scoliosis surgeries. The duration of surgical intervention and the number of scoliosis operations performed on the person may also be higher. On the other hand, heart, lung, diabetes, and osteoporosis diseases are among the important information that should be reported to the doctor for scoliosis surgery.
What kind of treatment is applied in Adult Scoliosis Surgery?
The aim of scoliosis surgery is to correct the curvature to provide balance, fuse the vertebrae (fusion) and eliminate nerve compressions (Decompression). Your doctor will decide how much and how wide these should be done. Some patients may require a longer fusion and some patients a shorter fusion and decompression.
After adult scoliosis surgery, the patient is kept in the hospital for 1 week to 10 days for the recovery and rehabilitation process. After the surgery, the patient can usually stay in the intensive care unit for one night. On the first day after scoliosis surgery, the patient is seated by the bed, and leg exercises can be performed. On the same day or the next day, the patient is moved (the patient needs to stand up and walk a few steps).
After the patient is discharged, an exercise program is given to him. The patient starts to apply to this program. The results of the treatment are evaluated by the doctor’s regular check-ups. This whole process is aimed to return the person to his normal life as soon as possible.