* What are the benefits from surgery for scoliosis?
* What are the risks from surgery for scoliosis?
* What techniques will be used for the surgery?
* What devices will be used to keep the spine stable after surgery?
* Where will the incisions be made?
* How straight will the patient's spine be after surgery?
* How long will the hospital stay be?
* How long will it take to recover from surgery?
* Is there chronic back pain after surgery for scoliosis?
* Will the patient's growth be limited?
* How flexible will the spine remain?
* Can the curve worsen or progress after surgery?
* Will additional surgery be likely?
* Will the patient be able to do all the things he or she wants to do following surgery? itskayelee had done a pretty good job of researching. I have a couple of additions/corrections, though.
Risks - Its rare, but if you're male and need an anterior incision, the surgeon must avoid cutting a particular nerve which, if cut, would cause impotence.
Devices - Harrington rods haven't been used in this country for quite awhile. In fact, you wouldn't want them because you have a pretty good chance of getting flatback (loss of lordosis). They've been replaced by other instrumentation.
Recovery time - The patient's age is a factor. Younger patients rebound faster than older patients.
Will additional surgery be needed - For the scoliosis, probably not. But, your discs above and (mostly) below the fusion now have to take up the cushioning done by the discs that were removed during the fusion. It is possible that they'll wear out. Ask your doctor about this one. Is this a Post Graduate test?
You need to take all these questions to the Dr. will perform your surgery. (But after reading all of them may cancel your case and send you to someone else).
You should already have all these answers in the preop. paperwork; if not, seek care elsewhere. * What are the benefits from surgery for scoliosis?
-spine is straighter, rib humps less visble, hips and or shoulder blades more even, disease is overall less visible. also, it prevents it from getting worse and from problems that can be very severe- such as compressing the lungs
* What are the risks from surgery for scoliosis?
-death (from the anestisia); paralysis; problems with the rods-falling out, causing infections, body rejects them, ect
* What techniques will be used for the surgery?
-there are 2 techniques- posterior (go through the side) and anterior (go directly throught the back) and then they insert Herrington Rods to fuse vertebre together
* What devices will be used to keep the spine stable after surgery?
-Harrington Rods
* Where will the incisions be made?
-in the back along the spine or through the side
* How straight will the patient's spine be after surgery?
- depending upon the flexiblitly of the curve, usually 15-70% correction of original curve
* How long will the hospital stay be?
-average of 5 days, requirements to leave- able to walk up and down a flight of stairs, be off your IV, eating and drinking, progressing as expected
* How long will it take to recover from surgery?
-well most kids can go back to school in 4-6 weeks, but until 6 months post op there are some limitations
* Is there chronic back pain after surgery for scoliosis?
-not usually, unless there are complications
* Will the patient's growth be limited?
-the parts of the spine that are fused together will not grow, but the growth that is Gained from the straightening of the spine normally makes up for any growth lost from inserting the rods
* How flexible will the spine remain?
-after 6 months, there are very few movements you can't make, although it does depend on how many vertebre are fused together
* Can the curve worsen or progress after surgery?
-it is rare, though other kinds of curves can develop
* Will additional surgery be likely?
-not likely, but possible
* Will the patient be able to do all the things he or she wants to do following surgery?
-for the first 6 months there are lots of limitations- no roller coaster rides, no gymnastics, few sports allowed besides swimming; but after 6 months the only thing you are advised not to do is contact sports
if you have any other questions than iscoliosis.com is a great resource!!!
hope i helped! :) |
