SCOLIOSIS SURGERY

General

At a surgery for the therapy of Scoliosis become metallic Screw and rod systems brought in for correction. This system can either be from front (ventral), as well as from back (dorsal) to be assembled. After the curvature of the spine has been corrected, the surgically treated section of the spine must be stiffened. This ensures a lifelong correction, but the mobility in the affected spinal column section is eliminated.

preparation

If scoliosis is recognized early and treated appropriately for the stage, a spinal stretching procedure is often not necessary. With very severe or stiff Scoliosis, or if the spine is curved forward (Hyperkyphosis), however, it may be necessary to straighten the spine before the operation. This is done in the so-called Traction method (Latin tractio = pulling force). A ring fixed on the head becomes a permanent one Longitudinal pull exerted on the spine, which causes the trunk to stretch. This method is intended to slowly stretch the curvature and the shortened soft tissues (muscles and ligaments). This serves to achieve a better and neurologically safe surgical result.

Surgical technique - posterior approach

The patient is on the belly stored horizontally and initially the Spinous processes of the Vertebral bodies exposed. Following will be Screws both sides over the Arch roots anchored in the vertebrae (so-called Pedicle screws). After the rods into the Spine have been introduced, the curvature can be corrected. When the spine is straight again in the appropriate place, will bone or Bone substitute material inserted between the operated vertebral bodies. As a result, the operated vertebrae grow together so that a new curvature is not possible. In the first year after the operation, the inserted screw-rod system is used stabilization the correct position of the spine. During this year, the bony vertebral bodies grow together, so that the material that has been introduced can theoretically be removed again. In most cases, however, this does not make sense due to the major re-operation.

Surgical technique - anterior access

During this operation, the patient is placed on the move, or the page stored. The intervertebral discs and the anterior parts of the spine are then accessed via a lateral incision in the chest or abdomen. Access is always from the side towards which the curvature of the spine is directed. Then the Band washers the vertebral bodies to be operated on are removed in order to first mobilize the vertebral bodies. Bone material is then placed between the vertebrae to stiffening to reach. Here, too, a screw-rod system is introduced into the vertebral bodies in order to establish the correct position of the vertebral bodies in relation to one another. With this access route, the insert is also a Chest drain necessary to drain the wound fluid from the chest for a few days.

This is a modern implant system for the anterior access route Halm-Zielke instruments. An indication for this is, for example, a single-arch curvature of the Thoracic spine or Lumbar spine. After the vertebral bodies to be operated on have been mobilized as described above, a flat one is made Ironing plate placed on the sides of the vertebral bodies and fixed with screws. Rods are then mounted on this plate, whereby the correction of the spinal column section can take place. This form of the screw-rod system is a three-dimensional correction the curvature of the spine is possible. In addition, due to the high stability of this system, a subsequent Corset treatment unnecessary.