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There is currently no recommendation by Scoliosis Research Society or American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons for the number of hours patients should be out of brace for an out-of-brace x-ray. It is my understanding that it's strictly doctor preference. Why is that? Wouldn’t zero hours out of brace show a different result than 24 hours out of brace?
That is correct. At this point, it is at the discretion of the treating physician. There are numerous variables taken into consideration when deciding on what is best for each patient.
Is it true that having scoliosis surgery would not correct 100 percent of a spinal curve?
It depends on the patient. Usually, there is excellent correction (60-80 percent); however the goal is not always to achieve a zero degree curve, but to prevent the curve from getting worse, which would occur without surgery.
What is surgery like now for teens in terms of length of hospital stay, recovery and post-surgery cast or brace?
The average stay is 4-6 days, and return to sports now is a much shorter time frame, roughly 3-4 months versus 6 months. There is usually no post-surgery brace or cast.
Dr. Roger Widmann is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and the Chief of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery. He practices at both the HSS Outpatient Center in Paramus and the hospital’s main campus in New York.
