Frequently Asked Questions

Scoliosis Surgery

How big will my scar be?
Will the metal from the rods cause any harm to my body?
Will the rods have to be removed?
Can the rods be removed after a certain period of time?
Will I be able to feel the rods when I move?
Will I be able to sleep on my back ever again?
Will I be able to bend from side to side?
Can I still participate in aerobic exercise/dance?
What would happen if I don't have surgery?
Can I ever have a MRI?
How long will I be in surgery?
Will this diagnosis and surgery affect me if I want to have children later?
Will I have children who will develop scoliosis?
Will I need a hospital bed at home?
Will I have any restrictions with contact sports?
What kind of brace will I have to wear?
Will my back develop into arthritis later in life?
Will the rods in my back set off airport metal detectors?
How soon after surgery can I walk?
How long will I be in the hospital?
What are the chances of paralysis dut to operating so close to the spinal cord?
Will I need to be on strong pain medication?
With donating blood before surgery, will my resistance be low that could cause other complications?
Will I have to do wound care when we get home?

Question: How big will my scar be?
Answer:The size of the scar depends on how many curves there are to correct.

Question:Will the metal from the rods cause any harm to my body?
Answer:The metal rods essentially never cause any harm to the body.

Question: Will the rods have to be removed?
Answer:The rods are inert. There is usually no need for further surgery.

Question:Can the rods be removed after a certain period of time?
Answer:The rods are inert. There is usually no reason to remove the rods.

Question:Will I be able to feel the rods when I move?
Answer:Extremely thin people sometimes feel the rods if pushed on the skin. Otherwise, no.

Question:Will I be able to sleep on my back ever again?
Answer:Yes, at any time. You will not be uncomfortable in this position.

Question:Will I be able to bend from side to side?
Answer:You will not experience any difficulty in bending side to side.

Question:Can I still participate in aerobic exercise/dance?
Answer:Yes. Most children can play all sports with no limitations.

Question:What would happen if I don't have surgery?
Answer: Without surgery, the curve will probably get worse causing cosmetic deformity.

Question:Can I ever have a MRI?
Answer:Yes, but not of the area in which the rods are situated.

Question:How long will I be in surgery?
Answer: This surgery including anesthesia set-up, positioning, and post operation time takes approximately five hours. The actual surgery takes about three hours.

Question:Will this diagnosis and surgery affect me if I want to have children later?
Answer:No, you may have children normally like anyone else.

Question:Will I have children who will develop scoliosis?
Answer:Your children will have an increased chance of having scoliosis

Question:Will I need a hospital bed at home?
Answer:No.

Question:Will I have any restrictions with contact sports?
Answer:After an intitial healing of about seven months, there will be no restrictions on contact sports.

Question:What kind of brace will I have to wear?
Answer:A plastic brace that fits your trunk is the most usual brace used. You will usually wear this 4-6 months post-op, depending on the surgery.

Question:Will my back develop into arthritis later in life?
Answer:The chances of developing arthritis are very high if scoliosis is left untreated. However, after surgery, the chances of developing arthritis are very low.

Question:Will the rods in my back set off airport metal detectors?
Answer:No.

Question:How soon after surgery can I walk?
Answer:You will be able to walk 2-4 days after surgery after the brace is fitted.

Question:How long will I be in the hospital?
Answer:You will be hospitalized about one week.

Question:What are the chances of paralysis dut to operating so close to the spinal cord?
Answer: The risk is low in most children, under 1%, but the doctor may describe a situation in your case that might be higher.

Question:Will I need to be on strong pain medication?
Answer:Initially intravenous pain medication is given for 2-3 days. After about 5 days, most children do not need any medication.

Question:With donating blood before surgery, will my resistance be low that could cause other complications?
Answer:Donating blood will not lower your resistance. The primary advantage of receiving your own blood is that it substantially lowers the chances of complications.

Question:Will I have to do wound care when we get home?
Answer:Usually the only thing to be done is to remove the steri strips(tapes) about two weeks after your surgery.