Treatments

Technology and Care

  • Comprehensive Screening and EOS: Our team uses state-of-the-art imaging technology to provide high-quality orthopedic care. The EOS system offers a complete view of a patient’s spine, aiding in  diagnosing , treating , and monitoring of our scoliosis patients while at the same time minimizing radiation exposure.
  • Spine Navigation and Technology: Our pediatric spine surgery group is dedicated to providing exceptional care by utilizing state-of-the-art spine navigation technology. This advanced approach ensures precision  and safety, allowing us to deliver the highest quality outcomes for our young patients.
  • Neuromonitoring/ Spine Navigation technology
  • Complex Scoliosis Pathway: At UTHealth Houston in collaboration with Children’s Memorial Hermann we have created Complex Scoliosis Pathways, that are tailored for patients with intricate spinal deformities, this pathway involves preoperative planning, specialized surgical techniques, and postoperative monitoring. It ensures optimal outcomes for our patients.
  • Enhanced recovery pathway: These pathways have been designed to accelerate a patient’s recovery and emphasize early mobilization, pain management, and nutrition. It minimizes complications and shortens hospital stays.
  • Postoperative outline: Our care team takes a comprehensive approach to spinal surgery, promoting our patients well-being and successful outcomes. We integrate recovery pathways tailored to enhance each patient’s goals, ensuring lasting results.
  • Spasticity clinic

Non-operative treatment

  • Bracing – The goal of bracing is to stop scoliosis curve from increasing as you grow. Bracing is a nonsurgical scoliosis treatment for children who: Have been diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis, still growing, and have spinal curves between 20 and 40 degrees
  • Schroth Physical Therapy – Physical therapy can be beneficial in the treatment of scoliosis. The Schroth-certified physical therapists we work with aim to reduce spinal curvature progression, decrease pain and improve posture. Our treatment consists of utilizing a combination of techniques, including Schroth method for postural re-education, manual therapy for improved joint and soft tissue mobility, and core stabilization to maintain posture during daily activities. In addition, education is given to the patient and family on care and managing daily functions while living with scoliosis. Learn more here.

Could be good to add an FAQ on bracing. 

Operative Treatment

  • Surgical Treatment – Scoliosis is often recommended for adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis that exceeds 40 to 45 degrees. Scoliosis surgery can reduce the curvature significantly, while also improving: Shoulder imbalance, rib hump, waist balance, Self-image, Pain.
  • Posterior spinal fusion – The goal of surgical treatment is to prevent the curve from worsening and to safely straighten the spinal curve. Surgery generally includes placing screws and rods into the spine to correct the curve. The rods hold the spine in the corrected position and allow the bone to fuse. We plan surgeries based on current research and use the most advanced technology. The type of surgery we perform is based on the child’s age, as well as the type and severity of scoliosis and any underlying medical conditions.
  • Growth Friendly surgery – VEPTR, MAGEC, Growing Rods, vertebral body tethering In younger patients who still have more growing to do but need a spine surgery to prevent their spinal curve from worsening, there are growth-friendly options that allow continued spinal growth but limit the worsening of your child’s deformity.
    • VEPTR
    • Growing Rods – Growing rods are surgical devices placed along your child’s spine and attached to the spine with
      either hooks or screws above and below the curve. The area around the hooks and/or screws is
      fused to provide strong support. The curved part of the spine remains unfused. Growing rods
      help correct spine and chest deformity and need to be lengthened every 6-12 months in the
      operating room.
    • MAGEC- rods are a type of growth-friendly device. MAGEC rods may be lengthened with the use of an external magnetic controller allowing the patient to avoid an invasive procedure or even being placed under anesthesia.
    • Vertebral Body Tethering – Tethering attempts to straighten the spine by altering the growth of the spine without a definitive fusion. Screws are inserted on the outside of the vertebrae which connect a flexible cord along the spine. As the cord is tightened during surgery and as the child grows, the tether will help to adjust and straighten the curved spine.