Five Things to Look for in a Scoliosis Program

Scoliosis is a common condition that causes a sideways curvature in the spine. It affects up to nine million people in the United States. While it can develop in infants and young children, for many people it begins between ages 10 and 15.

Scoliosis is a complex but treatable condition. Seeking care from a program focused exclusively on pediatric conditions helps your child experience the best possible outcome.

“A dedicated pediatric spine center with specialists focused on childhood conditions like scoliosis offers more treatment options, safer care and faster recovery,” says Michael Heffernan, MD. He is an orthopedic surgeon and pediatric spine deformity specialist at the Children’s Spine Center, part of the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

According to Dr. Heffernan, a spine center like the one at CHLA provides access to advanced technology, innovative treatments and supportive services. “There are far more resources available to you within a pediatric center.”

Dr. Heffernan recommends families also consider these key components of quality scoliosis care:

1. Team of specialists

Look for a program that features a team of trained specialists. “When you have multiple spine experts reviewing your child’s case, you benefit from their combined experience, resources and knowledge,” he says.

At CHLA, the Children’s Spine Center team meets every week to discuss cases. “As a group, we discuss the benefits and risks of treatment options and procedures,” Dr. Heffernan notes. “We collaborate on the best approach for each child’s condition. This contributes to our very low surgical complication rates.”

2. High volume of scoliosis patients

A spine program that sees many scoliosis patients will have more experience in treating a wide range of cases. “At a high-volume center, you have access to providers and surgeons who treat hundreds of people with scoliosis each year,” Dr. Heffernan says. “This level of expertise ensures your child receives the highest-quality care, whether their case is mild or the most severe. High volume leads to the best outcomes.”

3. Wide range of treatment options

There are many treatments for scoliosis, including nonsurgical and surgical options. According to Dr. Heffernan, a pediatric spine center offers the widest range of treatment options. “Each child receives personalized care based on a variety of factors, including their age, expected growth, and the severity of their condition,” he says.

At CHLA, your child’s treatment options may include nonsurgical therapies that delay or prevent the need for surgery, such as:

• Bracing: A scoliosis brace slows the progression of the condition in adolescents. A brace helps train your child’s body to maintain a straighter posture. Bracing can also help support your child’s spine after surgery.
• Casting: Plaster casts help to correct early-onset scoliosis in very young children and can prevent surgical intervention.
• Monitoring with low-radiation X-ray: Children with scoliosis may need X-ray imaging multiple times each year to monitor the curve in their spine. CHLA offers EOS low-radiation X-ray technology that uses 90 percent less radiation than traditional X-ray imaging.
• Scoliosis-specific physical therapy: Physical therapy targets your child’s core and back muscles, which support their spine. It can help improve back pain in children with minor spinal curves.

When a child needs surgery to correct scoliosis, the surgeons at CHLA may recommend state-of-the-art procedures, including:

• Halo-gravity traction: Surgeons attach a ring (halo) to your child’s skull and use weights and pulleys to gradually stretch their spine.
• Non-fusion surgical options: For select patients with smaller curves and significant growth remaining, surgeons utilize surgical options that manipulate growth of the vertebral body to straighten the spine.
• MAGEC (magnetic expansion control) growing rods: With this technology, surgeons implant rods in a single surgery. They can adjust the rods during an office appointment using magnets, avoiding the need for subsequent surgeries.
• Spinal fusion: Spinal fusion surgery uses metal rods to straighten and stabilize your child’s spine. Bone grafts fuse the instrumentation in place.

4. Education and support programs

Preoperative counseling helps parents and children prepare for surgery and recovery. “Our nurses run a preoperative spine class,” says Dr. Heffernan. “This allows families to ask any questions they want in a compassionate and supportive setting. It helps everyone feel comfortable before surgery. The nurses also explain the recovery process, so the family knows the child will be up and walking the morning after surgery and throughout their recovery.”

At CHLA, the spine center nurses can connect families deciding on surgery with other families who went through the process. “Talking with another family when their child had the same surgery makes a difference,” says Dr. Heffernan. “It really helps give parents and children peace of mind.”

Scoliosis care at the Children’s Spine Center

CHLA’s top-ranked spine center treats mild and complex cases of scoliosis. The hospital’s orthopedic surgeons perform more than300 spine procedures each year, with outstanding outcomes. Children recover from surgery on our dedicated spine unit with specialty-trained nurses and staff. With our rapid recovery protocols, most patients go home two days after their procedure.