What Is Adult Scoliosis Surgery?
Adult scoliosis surgery is reserved for patients who've failed conservative management and have disabling pain, significant spinal imbalance, or progressive neurological symptoms. The scope of surgery varies enormously depending on the deformity: some patients need only a focal decompression or short-segment fusion, while others with severe, rigid curves require multi-level reconstruction with osteotomies and long fusion constructs to restore sagittal and coronal balance.
Who It's For
Surgery is considered when non-surgical treatment — physical therapy, injections, activity modification — no longer controls pain, or when nerve compression from the deformity is causing progressive weakness or functional decline. The right procedure depends heavily on curve magnitude, rigidity, sagittal balance, bone quality, and the patient's overall health and goals.
How the Procedure Is Performed
Depending on the deformity, surgery may involve posterior instrumentation with pedicle screws and rods, interbody fusion (TLIF, ALIF, or OLIF) to restore disc height and correct alignment, and in more severe or rigid curves, osteotomies that allow greater correction through the existing bone. For larger reconstructions, the procedure may be staged over two separate operations to reduce risk.
Recovery & Rehabilitation
Recovery is scaled to the magnitude of the surgery performed. Larger reconstructions typically involve a hospital stay of five to seven days or more, a structured mobilization protocol beginning within a day or two, and an extended period of activity modification. Physical therapy plays a significant role in recovery, and the fusion matures over roughly six to twelve months or longer.