In recognition of National Scoliosis Awareness Month, we want to do our part in raising awareness of scoliosis and related spinal conditions.
Living with spinal conditions can be challenging, and it can be overwhelming to learn that you need spine surgery. Our outstanding medical staff at UnaSource is committed to ensuring that you are in good hands by performing surgeries to relieve symptoms that once weighed you down.
National Scoliosis Awareness Month
National Scoliosis Awareness Month takes place in June each year. The goal of this month is to highlight the growing need for public education about scoliosis and to inform people about the importance of early detection and awareness.
Scoliosis can have a major impact on the lives of those who experience it. According to the National Scoliosis Foundation, scoliosis patients across the U.S. make more than 600,000 visits to physicians’ offices every year. An estimated 30,000 children are fitted with a brace and 38,000 patients undergo spinal fusion surgery. Raising awareness about the condition can help in early detection, acceptance, and recognition of scoliosis patients.
What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a condition where there is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, and it is most often diagnosed in childhood or early adolescence. It is often defined as spinal curvature in the frontal plane. Scoliosis is a complex, three-dimensional problem that impacts several planes, including:
- Coronal Plane (the vertical plane that divides the body into belly and back sections)
- Sagittal Plane (the vertical plane that divides the body into right and left sides)
- Axial Plane (the horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts)
The signs and symptoms of scoliosis can be observed in many different ways. For example, the shoulders may appear uneven, as scoliosis can cause one or both of the shoulder blades to stick out. The head is also not centered directly above the pelvis, and the entire body leans to one side. The waist may also be uneven, and the rib cages are at different heights. One or both hips are often raised or unusually high.
However, typically patients compensate their curve, so it may be difficult to notice any curvature in the spine.
Common Treatment for Scoliosis
For a confirmed diagnosis of scoliosis, doctors will consider a variety of factors when determining treatment options, such as spinal maturity, degree and extent of curvature, location of curvature, and the possibility of curve progression. The most common treatments for scoliosis are observation, bracing, and surgery.
The primary goals for surgery in children are to stop the curve progression into adulthood and to diminish spinal deformity. Surgery is typically recommended only when the spinal curve is greater than a certain amount of degrees and there are signs of progression. One operation used to treat scoliosis is a spinal fusion.
Spine Surgery at UnaSource Surgery Center
Spine surgery is a general term for a variety of surgical procedures performed to treat acute and chronic spine disorders. With the advancement of technology, surgeons today can safely perform many spinal procedures on an outpatient basis, so patients can go home on the same day and recover in the comfort of their own homes.
Visit our website to learn more about the different types of outpatient spine surgery procedures at our Oakland County ambulatory surgery center.