Your child may need spinal surgery for scoliosis or a spinal disorder.
They may need surgery if:
- other treatments do not work and their scoliosis gets worse
- they have severe scoliosis
The type of surgery they are offered will depend on their age.
There is a waiting list for surgery. Children who need surgery the most will be seen first.
Spinal surgery waiting list updates - childrenshealthireland.ie
Children age 10 or younger
Children age 10 or younger may have an operation to insert growing rods along their spine. This can stop the curve getting worse.
Your child will need to have the rods lengthened every few months. This is to keep up with their growth.
The rods are lengthened by either:
- making a small cut in their back to extend the rods, or
- moving magnets inside the rods using a remote control - no cuts are needed
Teenagers and young adults
Teenagers and young adults who've stopped growing or have little growing left to do can have an operation called a spinal fusion. This is a complex operation.
The spine is corrected using:
- metal rods
- screws
- hooks
- wires
- bone grafted from another part of your child's body (for example, from another part of their back)
These are usually left in place permanently.
Most people:
- spend at least 3 to 4 days in hospital after surgery - sometimes more, if the surgery is very complex
- can return to school after a few weeks
- can play sports after a few months - although they may need to avoid contact sports for longer
Risks of surgery
Like any operation, spinal surgery carries a risk of complications. Your child's surgeon will only recommend surgery if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Some of the main risks include:
- bleeding during surgery - if this is severe, your child may need a blood transfusion
- wound infection - this can usually be treated with antibiotics
- the rods or metalwork moving or the grafts failing to attach - your child may need more surgery
- damage to the nerves in the spine - rare, but this can lead to permanent numbness in the legs, paralysis or loss of bowel and bladder control
Talk to your child's surgeon about potential complications.