Procedure Description:

Spinal Fusion Surgery:

Spinal fusion is a surgical operation that permanently joins two or more vertebrae into one solid bone, leaving no space between them. Vertebrae are the tiny, interconnecting bones that form the spine. Extra bone is used in spinal fusion to cover the space that typically exists between two distinct vertebrae. When the bone heals, there is no more space between them.

Spinal fusion is also called:

1- Arthrodesis.

2. Anterior spinal fusion.

3- Posterior spinal fusion

4. Vertebral interbody fusion

Spinal fusion is used to cure or alleviate symptoms of a variety of spinal conditions. The treatment prevents movement between the two treated vertebrae. This may reduce flexibility, but it is effective in treating spinal abnormalities that make movement unpleasant. 

Disease Overview:

Scoliosis:

The most common age group for a diagnosis of scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine, is teens. Although persons with disorders like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy can develop scoliosis, the majority of scoliosis in children has an unknown origin. The majority of scoliosis cases are moderate, however some curvature get worse as kids get older. Entire scoliosis can be incapacitating. A particularly severe curvature of the spine may result in less space in the chest, which could compromise the healthy functioning of the lungs.

Youngsters with mild scoliosis are regularly watched to assess if the curve is getting worse, typically with X-rays. Many times, no medical intervention is required. In order to prevent the curvature from getting worse, some kids might need to wear braces. For some with more severe curvature, surgery might be necessary.

Disease Signs and Symptoms:

Scoliosis symptoms can include:

1. Shoulders not level.

2. A single shoulder blade that sticks out more than the other.

3- Uneven waist.

4- One hip is elevated above the other.

5. The rib cage protrudes on one side.

6. A protrusion when bending forward on one side of the back.

The spine will typically twist or rotate in addition to bending side to side in cases of scoliosis. As a result, the muscles or ribs on one side of the body protrude more than those on the other.

Disease Causes:

Although the illness sometimes runs in families, medical professionals are unsure of the exact etiology of the most prevalent type of scoliosis, although it appears to entail familial elements. Less frequent forms of scoliosis could result from:

1. Some neuromuscular disorders, like muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy.

2. Birth malformations that interfere with the spine's skeletal development.

3. A prior childhood chest wall surgery.

4. Spinal infections or injuries.

5. abnormalities in the spinal cord.

Disease Diagnosis:

Initially, the medical staff will gather a thorough medical history and might inquire about any recent growth. In order to determine whether one side of the rib cage is more noticeable than the other, your child's physical examination provider may ask them to stand and then bend forward from the waist while leaving their arms hanging loose.

A neurological examination may also be performed by your doctor to look for reflexes, numbness, and muscle weakness.

Simple X-rays can show how severe the spinal curvature is and confirm the diagnosis of scoliosis. Because several X-rays will be taken over time to see whether the curve is getting worse, repeated radiation exposure can become problematic.

If your doctor believes that the scoliosis is being caused by an underlying problem, such as a spinal cord abnormality, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be advised.

Disease Treatment:

Treatments for scoliosis differ according on the curvature's size. Very mildly curved children typically don't require any kind of therapy at all, however they might require routine examinations to determine whether the curve is getting worse as they become older.

Braces: Your doctor might suggest a brace if your child has moderate scoliosis, and their bones are still growing. A brace typically stops the curvature from becoming worse, but it won't cure scoliosis or reverse the curve.

Surgery:

Your healthcare professional may recommend scoliosis surgery to help straighten the curvature and stop it from growing worse because severe scoliosis usually worsens over time.

Surgical alternatives consist of:

- Spinal fusion: During this operation, two or more vertebrae—the bones that make up the spine—are fused together to prevent them from moving apart.

- Expanding rod: Surgeons may place one or two expandable rods along the spine that can be adjusted in length as the kid grows if the scoliosis is developing quickly at a young age.

- Tethering of vertebral bodies. Tiny incisions can be used to carry out this surgery. A robust, flexible cord is threaded through the screws that are positioned at the outside edge of the spinal curve. The spine straightens when the cord is tightened. The child's spine may straighten much more as they get older.