Problems after Adult Scoliosis Surgery OrthoSpine

Description: Scoliosis in an adult can lead to significant pain and disability. Non-operative treatment is not always successful in treating this condition and thus in a small group of patients surgical treatment may be considered. The operative care for adult scoliosis is complex and requires and experienced team. Even in the very best centers the results are not always good and complications are unfortunately not uncommon. There are a number of things which may not go as planned in the setting of adult scoliosis. The surgery is often long, blood loss may be heavy and risks of nerve irritation/injury, infection and poor healing are high. Even after the initial surgical period, complications or poor results may become apparent due to loss of proper spinal balance (flatback, kyphotic decompensation syndrome, flatbuttock), failure of good bone healing (pseudarthrosis) and degeneration or failure of unfused levels of the spine (decompensation, instability).