Scoliosis Surgery Problems

Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curve of the spinal column. It is most common in females and can be hereditary. The bones of the spine twist like a corkscrew. Surgery may be used to help treat scoliosis, which can involve using hooks and screws to anchor the spine and keep it straight, removal of a disc, or removal of a rib, but there are potential scoliosis surgery problems that may occur that a patient should be aware of prior to having an operation, such as risks, complications and side effects.

Infection

• As with any surgery, there is always the risk of infection. However, the infection risk for scoliosis surgery is low. Antibiotics are administered before, during and after the operation, just in case. If an infection does occur, additional surgery may be needed to clean the affected area. More antibiotics are also given, either in pill form or by IV.

Implant Problems

• With scoliosis surgery, it is possible for an implant to become loose or break. If this does occur, a second operation may be needed to fix this complication.

Bleeding

• Bleeding, to some degree, is normal after any surgery. Bleeding is minimized during the operation by using careful techniques and through a low blood pressure anesthesia technique called hypotensive anesthesia, where the patient's blood pressure is lowered and kept at a healthy level. The blood is also collected, filtered and cleaned and then given back to the patient.

Blood Clots

• After any major surgery, there is a risk of blood clots. It is rare but not impossible to experience a blood clot after an operation of the spine. If a blood clot occurs, it can potentially get loose from the spine and then move toward the lungs, which could prevent the blood from receiving oxygen. Blood clots can be treated with further surgery. To prevent blood clots in the first place, a patient may be placed on blood thinners, use special compression stockings, and/or be kept mobile through active leg exercises and getting out of bed.

Neurological Damage

• The risk of spinal cord or nerve damage, although possible, is small. To prevent injury during scoliosis surgery, the surgeon uses careful techniques. Also, the spinal cord is monitored through electrical signals from the spinal cord and nerves. These signals are watched by a medical professional and if anything changes, it is reported back to the surgeon.

Anesthesia Risks

• Any time a patient is put to sleep for an operation, there are potential anesthesia risks. Right before scoliosis surgery, an anesthesiologist speaks to the patient about the possible risks as well as any underlying health problems. Possible risks include headache, swallowing difficulties during surgery, changes in heart rate or blood pressure, heart attack or stroke.

Increased Torso Deformity

• Increased torso deformity is one of the potential scoliosis surgery problems. During the surgery, force is used to straighten and stop the rotation of the spine. It is possible for the rib hump (rib protrusion) to worsen and for a patient to even be worse off after the surgery. The surgeon can try to fix this by cutting out the ribs that are causing the protrusion. When some ribs are removed, it is possible to have what is called progressive scoliosis. The normal function of the rib cage can be permanently affected.

  In scoliosis surgery, reducing the lateral curve of the mid back can worsen sagittal deformity and cause "flatback." Flatback is a flattening of the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid back) and/or lumber (low back) spine, which is worse than the original deformity.