How does a doctor decide if surgery is needed when treating someone with scoliosis?
If a child is diagnosed with scoliosis, he will be followed to see how the curve or curves progress. Usually, an orthopedist is in charge of patients with scoliosis. By taking x-rays on a regular basis, the doctor can see if the curves are getting worse or staying stable.
If the curves are worsening, treatment with braces may be needed. If the curves continue to worsen and don't seem to be responding to the bracing, the orthopedist may suggest that surgery is needed. In this case, a metal rod is placed next to the spine to stabilize it. The surgeon then grafts bone to the spine, which will then fuse and strengthen it, keeping it from curving any further.
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