There are several ways to correct spinal deformities such as scoliosis and kyphosis:
Posterior – from the back of the spine as you lie on your stomach (most frequently performed for idiopathic adolescent scoliosis)
Anterior – from the front of the spine through the side of your chest or abdomen
Both posterior and anterior – a combination of both posterior and anterior techniques, generally recommended for curves that are very severe and stiff, or when previous attempts at fusion have failed.
This is the most common of the techniques, designed to correct the abnormal curves in the spine.
An incision is made down the middle of the back. The location and length of the incision depend on the location of the curve and how much access the surgeon needs.
Anterior instrumentation techniques can produce very powerful correction of spinal deformities. However, this approach is more difficult than the standard posterior approach. It allows surgeons to remove discs from the front of the spine, place corrective spinal instrumentation and perform a spinal fusion.
Some scoliosis curves, such as those involving the thoracolumbar spine, are especially responsive to the anterior approach. Your surgeon may be able to fuse a shorter segment of the spine, preserving more motion in your spinal column.
An incision is made down the side of the body. Depending on what part of the spine is affected, this may be over the chest wall or lower down along the abdomen.
Anterior and posterior surgery is generally recommended for curves that are very severe and stiff, or when previous attempts at fusion have failed.
First, an incision is made down the side of the body (anterior) and disc material is removed from between the vertebrae in the most severe part of your curve to give more flexibility and facilitate fusion. An incision is then made down the middle of the back and the deformity is corrected using spinal instrumentation followed by a posterior fusion.
