Treatment of Spinal Deformities (Scoliosis) in Adults and Children

A healthy spine is the support of the entire body. But sometimes, due to rapid growth in adolescence, injuries, or age-related changes, the spinal axis begins to curve. The most common form of such deformity is scoliosis — a lateral curvature of the spine, often accompanied by its rotation around its axis.

Scoliosis is far from just an aesthetic problem (“crooked back”). With significant curvatures, the rib cage deforms, leading to compression of the lungs, heart, and gastrointestinal organs, causing shortness of breath, chronic pain, and rapid fatigue. Specialists at St. Luke’s Clinic offer a comprehensive approach to treating spinal deformities: from modern methods of conservative rehabilitation to complex surgical corrections.

How to recognize scoliosis? (Main symptoms)

It is extremely important for parents to pay attention to their child’s posture during active growth (10–15 years). Signs of deformity that warrant immediate consultation with an orthopedist-vertebrologist:

• Shoulder asymmetry: one shoulder is noticeably higher than the other.
• Scapular prominence: one shoulder blade or costal arch protrudes more, forming a “rib hump” (especially noticeable if you ask the person to bend forward with arms hanging freely).
• Waist asymmetry: uneven waist triangles (the distance between the lowered arm and the torso is different on both sides).
• Pelvic tilt: one hip appears higher than the other, it may seem that one leg is shorter.
• Chronic back pain (more common in adult patients with scoliosis).

Diagnosis: determining the angle of curvature

Accurate diagnosis is necessary for the correct choice of treatment method. At St. Luke’s Clinic, we perform:

• Spinal radiography (panoramic image): allows the doctor to accurately measure the angle of curvature (Cobb angle) and determine the degree of scoliosis (from 1 to 4).
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): prescribed to assess the condition of the spinal cord, nerve roots, and intervertebral discs in cases of severe deformities and pain syndromes.

Methods of scoliosis treatment at St. Luke’s Clinic

The treatment strategy directly depends on the patient’s age and the angle of curvature. We use both non-surgical and surgical methods.

1. Conservative treatment and rehabilitation (Grade 1-2)

If the angle of curvature is small (up to 20-25 degrees), the main task is to stop the progression of the disease and strengthen the muscles. This is handled by our team of physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) doctors:

• Specialized therapeutic exercises (LFK): individual sessions aimed at asymmetrical training of back muscles (for example, using the globally recognized Katharina Schroth method) to “stretch” the concave side and strengthen the convex side.
• Physiotherapy and therapeutic massage: to relieve muscle spasms and improve blood circulation.
• Bracing (Cheneau brace): for curvatures from 20 to 40 degrees in growing adolescents, wearing a rigid custom brace is prescribed. It mechanically presses on the curve, “forcing” the spine to grow straight.

2. Surgical correction of deformities (Grade 3-4)

If the angle of curvature exceeds 40-45 degrees, conservative methods can no longer straighten the back. The deformity begins to threaten the function of internal organs. In such cases, our vertebrologist surgeons perform spinal stabilization surgery.

• Essence of the operation: The surgeon uses modern titanium constructs (screws, hooks, and rods) that are installed in the vertebrae. With these instruments, the spine is straightened to the maximum possible anatomical position and securely fixed.
• Safety: Titanium implants are completely biocompatible, they remain for life and allow for future MRI scans. The operation is accompanied by special neuromonitoring to control the condition of the spinal cord.
• Result: The patient gets a straight back, the rib hump disappears, the rib cage expands, and further progression of the disease stops.

Recovery after surgery

Despite the complexity of the intervention, modern technologies allow patients to get back on their feet very quickly. Already on the 2nd-3rd day after the operation (with the help of rehabilitation specialists), the patient begins to walk around the ward. The stay in the comfortable inpatient facility of St. Luke’s Clinic lasts about 5-7 days. Full fusion of bone structures takes several months, during which physical activity is restricted.

Good posture is not only beauty but also a guarantee of the health of the entire body. Book a consultation with the vertebrologists and rehabilitation specialists of St. Luke’s Clinic to choose the best path for scoliosis treatment!