In the United States, each year, about 2-3% percent of children and adolescents are diagnosed with an “S” or “C”-shaped curvature of the spine, or scoliosis. At first glance, this statistic might not seem alarming, but it’s shocking when you realize that it translates to about 3 million kids.
What does having scoliosis mean when you’re a child? And if it’s treated, how do you care for your spine as a childhood scoliosis survivor?
Dr. Benjamin Cohen provides excellent care for scoliosis patients of all ages, but if you were diagnosed with scoliosis as a kid or teen and underwent surgery, you may need further treatment in adulthood. His expertise in diagnosing and treating scoliosis and his caring approach make Dr. Cohen highly sought after by patients with scoliosis and many other back care needs.
Most scoliosis cases are diagnosed in children and adolescents when growth spurts are frequent. More girls than boys are affected by scoliosis, and the vast majority of cases, about 80-85%, are idiopathic, which means we don’t know the origin of the diagnosis.
Kids and teens with mild cases of scoliosis may experience no painful symptoms, but they may experience problems like:
Pain and even breathing problems can occur for those with more severe curvature.
Treatment for scoliosis depends on its severity and ranges from conservative approaches, like wearing a back brace, to stabilization surgery for more serious curvature (over 40 degrees), during which Dr. Cohen places metal implants to ensure the spine stays straight and in correct placement.
If you had scoliosis as a child, it’s a good idea to consult with Dr. Cohen about whether you need revision spine surgery, particularly if you received your scoliosis diagnosis over 20-30 years ago. This is because that time preceded important advances in spinal surgery.
Several decades ago, the standard surgical solution for scoliosis was to fuse an extended part of the spine, causing the remaining unfused spinal segments to take on more movement-related stress. Some patients who underwent that procedure develop adjacent-segment disease, where the mobile parts below and above the spinal fusion degenerate.
Unfortunately, when this happens, you experience painful arthritis in your ligaments, facet joints, and discs.
If you’re struggling with these symptoms, it’s a good idea to consult with Dr. Cohen. He may recommend revision spine surgery. This is a complex procedure performed within the context of your previous surgery, so he reviews your current symptoms, considers their relation to your previous surgery, and carefully plans the revision spine surgery.
Dr. Cohen may conclude that another fusion will help your situation and strengthen your spine with more plates or screws. Depending on the specific state of your spine, he may perform a decompression procedure or another way to deliver relief and enhance posture and movement.
In addition to addressing degenerative pain, spinal revision spine surgery can solve issues like ill-fitting clothing and balance problems.
Revision spine surgery addresses multiple conditions, from spinal stenosis to pseudarthrosis (when bones don’t heal well after spinal fusion), but it can also bring relief to adults who received surgery for scoliosis during the 1990s or before.
Dr. Cohen prefers to perform revision spine surgery with minimally invasive techniques whenever possible. During these surgeries, Dr. Cohen inserts a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on one end through a small incision rather than making long incisions, which was once the norm. This approach allows him to perform surgery with more clarity and precision.
Since these less invasive surgeries aren’t as traumatic to the body, recovery is faster, and you experience less pain, bleeding, and scarring.
If you had scoliosis as a child and are experiencing symptoms due to an old surgery, schedule an in-person or telemedicine consultation with Dr. Cohen by calling our office at 516-246-5008. You may also reach out to us through our website.
