What You Need To Know About Spine Deformity Surgery

19 October 2022

Your spine is composed of a number of bones, or vertebrae, stacked on top of each other. These bones give your spine its structure and allow you to stand upright. Sometimes, the vertebrae can become misshapen or deformed due to injury or disease. When this happens, it can lead to several problems, including pain, nerve damage, and sometimes even paralysis. In some cases, surgery may be required in order to correct the deformity and relieve the symptoms. Here's a look at what causes spine deformity, when surgery may be needed, and what the procedure entails.

What Causes Spine Deformity?

There are a number of things that can cause the vertebrae in your spine to become deformed, including:

• Scoliosis. The most common cause is scoliosis, which is a sideways curvature of the spine that usually occurs during adolescence.
• Kyphosis. This is an abnormal rounding of the upper back. 
• Lordosis. This spinal deformity is an excessive inward curve of the lower back. 
• Degenerative disc disease. This disease is caused by a breakdown of the discs that separate the vertebrae.

When Is Surgery Required?

In most cases, gentle exercises and/or wearing a back brace will be enough to correct mild scoliosis. However, in more severe cases, surgery may be required in order to prevent the deformity from getting worse. While surgery is often needed for kyphosis and lordosis, it may only be necessary for degenerative disc disease if conservative treatments like physical therapy and medication fail to relieve pain and improve mobility.

What Does Spine Deformity Surgery Entail?

The type of surgery you have will depend on the severity of your deformity as well as where it's located on your spine. The most common types of surgeries used to correct deformities are:

• Spinal Fusion. Spinal fusion permanently connects two or more vertebrae together so that they heal into a single bone, preventing further deformity while also relieving pain.
• Vertebral Column Resection. Vertebral column resection involves removing part of a vertebra to straighten the spine. This is usually only done in cases where there is significant pain or when other spine deformity surgery options are not possible.

If you have been diagnosed with a spine deformity, it's important to talk to your doctor about all of your treatment options. In most cases, conservative treatments like physical therapy will be enough to manage your condition. However, in more severe cases, surgery may be required in order to relieve pain. If you require spine deformity surgery, there are several effective options available that can help you find relief from your symptoms and get back to living your life normally.