Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Symptoms and Treatments

Types of Structural Scoliosis

There are several types of structural scoliosis. In this video, Dr. Joseph will discuss the most common type of scoliosis, review symptoms and outline treatment options available for patients.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis accounts for about 8 in 10 cases of scoliosis. This type of scoliosis typically presents during adolescence, but it can also start earlier in childhood or infancy. What causes idiopathic scoliosis is currently unknown. Researchers discovered a gene that is believed to be associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis only a few years ago.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is an abnormal C-shaped or S-shaped curvature of the spine. The curvature of the spine is measured by the Cobb angle. A Cobb angle greater than 15° is considered scoliosis.

Symptoms of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Symptoms include back pain, unequal leg lengths, uneven hips, uneven shoulders (one shoulder appears higher than the other), abnormal gait, as well as breathing difficulties when the rib cage puts pressure on the lungs. When left untreated, the deformity might progress significantly. For milder cases, your doctor may recommend nonsurgical treatment such as bracing. Braces are usually worn for several hours daily. This can be effective if the child is still growing and has a Cobb angle between 25° and 45°.
In progressive cases, or when the Cobb angle is greater than 45°, your doctor may recommend surgery to straighten and fixate the spine, by placing implants such as screws, rods, hooks, and wires in and along the spine.

Surgery treats but does not cure scoliosis. It corrects the abnormal curvature and prevents further progression of the disease.

Surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis requires planning and precision. Each scoliotic curvature has unique challenges, and often the patient’s vertebrae are deformed, twisted and abnormally small, which makes for a challenging surgery. Mazor’s core technology allows surgeons to plan ahead before entering the operating room; Mazor Robotics advanced 3D planning software is used before surgery to create the procedure for each patient’s condition. During the operation, the physician does the actual work; Mazor X guides the surgeon’s tools according to the predetermined blueprint to place the implants.

About Joseph Spine

Joseph Spine is an advanced center for spine, scoliosis and minimally invasive spine surgery. Founded by Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, a fellowship trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon. His practice includes the specialized, conservative, and surgical care of patients. Treatment includes therapeutic injections, disc replacement surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and complex reconstruction of adult and pediatric spinal disorders. Dr. Joseph is also among a select group of surgeons to offer cutting-edge regenerative injection (stem cell) therapy.

Robotic Assisted Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

In this blog post Dr. Joseph will review how minimally invasive spine surgery using Mazor X robotic technology can help people who are diagnosed with serious spine problems or complications that have not responded to medication, physical therapy or spinal injections.

Bringing State of the Art Spine Technology to Tampa Bay

Joseph Spine brings this state-of-the-art technology to our patients and offers a transformative leap forward in spinal surgery. Mazor X maximizes surgical predictability and allows surgeons to achieve greater precision for optimal patient benefit.

As with other robotic surgical devices, Mazor X does not perform actual surgeries. Instead it provides surgeons with information and anatomical images of the patient’s spine. In the operating room using Mazor X robotic-assisted technology, the blueprint guides surgeons through the operation with more accuracy and efficiency.
Mazor X incudes three integrated processes – Planning, Guidance, Verification – to assure greater predictability and precision during your procedure.

Mazor X Surgical Assurance Platform

The Core of the Surgical Assurance Platform is an innovative set of planning and guidance tools indicated for implant and instrument positioning in spine surgery.

Stage 1 – Planning Robotic Assisted Spine Surgery

The Mazor X system’s 3D planning software is used to create a comprehensive surgical plan as part of a total patient treatment strategy.

A pre-op CT scan of the patient is uploaded to the Mazor X software for planning and then two fluoro shots are taken intra-operatively to register.
A Mazor X Scan & Plan procedure utilizes an intra-op 3D imaging system, such as Medtronic’s O-arm, eliminating the need for a intra-op CT.

Stage 2 – Operate with Mazor X

The Mazor X Surgical System is attached to both the OR bed and the patient. With the surgeon in full control, the Surgical Arm guides the tools according to the surgical plan.
The Surgical Arm’s reach and range of motion allows for posterior instrumentation from a variety of different trajectories. Minimally-invasive spine surgery using Mazor X robotic technology can help people who are diagnosed with serious spine problems or complications that have not responded to medication, physical therapy or spinal injections.

Conditions include:

  • Vertebral fractures
  • Traumatic spine injury
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Spinal weakness or instability
  • “Slipped disc” (Spondylolisthesis)
  • Narrowing of spinal canal (Stenosis)
  • Adult degenerative spinal deformity (Scoliosis, kyphosis)
  • Revision Surgeries

Patients with these conditions often suffer with debilitating symptoms like:

  • Low back pain
  • Leg pain
  • Sciatica
  • Uneven legs, hips or shoulders
  • Abnormal gait
  • Breathing difficulties when the rib cage puts pressure on the lungs
  • The benefits of robotic spine surgery

Compared to traditional spine surgery, Mazor X robotic technology can:

  •  Increase surgical accuracy and help preserve surrounding healthy tissue
  • Allow surgeons to more accurately place hardware during the procedure, thus lowering the risk of complications
  • Reduce the risk of exposure to radiation from imaging scans
  • Improve recovery time due to less time in the operating room and while under anesthesia
  • Reduce pain after the surgery for a quicker return to daily activities

To learn more about Mazor X or to schedule an appointment, contact our office or request an appointment online at JosephSpine.com.

Dr. Joseph Spine Surgeon Tampa Bay Bucs

Dr. Samuel Joseph Spine Surgeon Chosen To Serve Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Described as “steadfast and dedicated” for his service to his spine patients, as well as, his humanitarian services to the Make a Wish Foundation, the Butterfly Foundation, and teaching his Minimally Invasive Techniques throughout the world, Dr. Samuel Joseph, of Joseph Spine, has been chosen as the team Spine Surgeon for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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