Long Term Effects of Scoliosis Surgery Treatment

Long Term Effects of Scoliosis Surgery Treatment More than half of the patients, who have undergone spinal fusion surgery, suffer from long-term scoliosis surgery side effects in their life. Any damage to the spine may leave a person bedridden for a lifetime. Even after successful spinal surgery, side effects of scoliosis persist, and ultimately, hamper the quality of life.

Here are some long term side effects of scoliosis seen in adults after a scoliosis correction surgery: Lost Mobility - In the attempt to correct spine deformation, surgeons consider fusing multiple vertebrae together using a steel rod. Once they are fused, the patient is no longer capable of lateral bending and spine rotation. Inserting a rod restricts the

movement and limit the spine flexibility. Patients who undergo spine surgery for scoliosis correction, mostly experience a 20 to 60% loss in flexibility.

Permanent Disability - Undergoing a spinal fusion surgery is a great risk to take.

Sometimes, the surgery damages the spinal nerves permanently. Patients may experience multiple neurologic problems such as leg weakness and loss of bladder and bowel. Also, spinal surgery may cause paraplegia, which is loss of muscle functionality completely in the lower half of the body, or quadriplegia, which is paralysis of both arms and legs when the spinal cord is damaged. Chances of disability and side effects of scoliosis in adults after the surgery are extremely high.

Chronic Pain - Patients often complaints about back pain even after successful spinal surgery. Changes (Fusion of vertebrae) made to the spine cause nerve damage, joint degeneration, implant failure, and many other complications. These ultimately interfere with patients’ long term quality of life.

Infection - Even after a decade of spinal fusion surgery, patients may suffer from an infection. Sometimes, surgery is often followed by multiple surgeries. Thus, making patients prone to infection forever. For the same reason, a patient, who had undergone surgery, have to be extra careful, throughout life and look out for infections.

Spinal surgery is followed by many complications. The side effects of Scoliosis surgery are not limited to spine and nerve damage only. Many patients experience improper or dysfunctionality of other organs such as breathing issues and permanent upper back pain.

Even a traditional scoliosis treatment, like bracing the back, doesn’t achieve the correction of the deformed spire. Patients may experience significant changes in the spine after bracing, but the treatment doesn’t really work in the long run. To avoid both scoliosis surgery and side effects, it is suggested to go for alternative scoliosis treatment.