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How Dr. Bridwell Treats Adult Scoliosis
Adult Scoliosis Thoracic Curves
Posterior Spinal Fusion with Instrumentation: Dr. Bridwell will perform the surgery from the back of the spine; that’s called a posterior approach. He will correct the curve. To help the spine heal in this new position, Dr. Bridwell will use appropriate spinal implants (rods, screws, etc.) to correct the spinal deformity and immobilize the spinal segments as they fuse and heal. Dr. Bridwell uses local bone graft and biologic proteins to enhance the fusion and make it much more likely that the spine will fuse correctly.
Please note: Dr. Bridwell does not take bone graft from the iliac crest of the hip; many other spine surgeons use iliac bone graft, which lengthens recovery time and increases the patient’s pain. Instead, Dr. Bridwell uses local bone graft from the spine. He also has a track record of using safe and effective biologic proteins, another advanced technique that improves the fusion success rate and avoids pain for the patient.
Number of Fused Vertebrae: For an Adult Scoliosis Thoracic Curve, Dr. Bridwell tries to fuse the least number of vertebrae possible. That helps the patient maintain as much motion in the spine as possible. Before deciding how many vertebrae to fuse, Dr. Bridwell thoroughly studies the x-rays and clinical exams, reviewing them multiple times as he formulates the surgical plan. He’s very committed to formulating the least invasive and least risky procedure for each patient, so patients can trust that his recommendation is the best surgical plan for them.
Adult Scoliosis Double Major Curves
Posterior Spinal Fusion with Instrumentation: Dr. Bridwell will perform the surgery from the back of the spine; that is called a posterior approach. He will correct the curve. To help the spine heal in this new position, Dr. Bridwell will use appropriate spinal implants (rods, screws, etc.) to correct the spinal deformity and immobilize the spinal segments as they fuse and heal. Dr. Bridwell uses local bone graft and biologic proteins to enhance the fusion and make it much more likely that the spine will fuse correctly.
Number of Fused Vertebrae: For an Adult Scoliosis Double Major Curve, Dr. Bridwell tries to fuse the least number of vertebrae possible. That helps the patient maintain as much motion in the spine as possible. Before deciding how many vertebrae to fuse, Dr. Bridwell thoroughly studies the x-rays and clinical exams, reviewing them multiple times as he formulates the surgical plan. He is very committed to formulating the least invasive and least risky procedure for each patient, so patients can trust that his recommendation is the best surgical plan for them.
Because Dr. Bridwell has been doing spinal deformity surgery since 1982 and because of his commitment to extensive follow-up and research, he is able to make informed decisions about how many vertebrae to fuse. In Adult Scoliosis Double Major Curve cases, there are two basic questions:
- Where do we stop the fusion at the bottom—how far below the curve?
- To answer that question, Dr. Bridwell examines the patient’s MRI to see how much the intervertebral discs have degenerated (worn out). He also looks for signs of spinal instability, such as spondylolisthesis, because he may need to stabilize the spine by fusing to a certain vertebral level.
- Where do we stop the fusion on top—how far above the curve?
- To answer that question, Dr. Bridwell draws on his years of research and previous experience with patients. He has done follow-up on many of his patients for 15 to 20 years, so he knows the long-term risks and benefits of stopping at certain vertebral levels.
No Bracing: Adult Scoliosis Double Major Curve patients do not use a brace following surgery. That is because Dr. Bridwell’s surgery provides such stability that a brace is unnecessary.
Adult Scoliosis Thoracolumbar Curves
Posterior Spinal Fusion with Instrumentation: Dr. Bridwell will perform the surgery from the back of the spine; that is called a posterior approach. He will correct the curve. To help the spine heal in this new position, Dr. Bridwell will u use appropriate spinal implants (rods, screws, etc.) to correct the spinal deformity and immobilize the spinal segments as they fuse and heal. Dr. Bridwell uses local bone graft and biologic proteins to enhance the fusion and make it much more likely that the spine will fuse correctly.
Number of Fused Vertebrae: For an Adult Scoliosis Thoracolumbar Curve, Dr. Bridwell tries to fuse the least number of vertebrae possible. That helps the patient maintain as much motion in the spine as possible. Before deciding how many vertebrae to fuse, Dr. Bridwell thoroughly studies the x-rays and clinical exams, reviewing them multiple times as he formulates the surgical plan. He is very committed to formulating the least invasive and least risky procedure for each patient, so patients can trust that his recommendation is the best surgical plan for them.
Because Dr. Bridwell has been doing spinal deformity surgery since 1982 and because of his commitment to extensive follow-up and research, he is able to make informed decisions about how many vertebrae to fuse. In Adult Scoliosis Double Major Curve cases, there are two basic questions:
- Where do we stop the fusion at the bottom—how far below the curve?
- To answer that question, Dr. Bridwell examines the patient’s MRI to see how much the intervertebral discs have degenerated (worn out). He also looks for signs of spinal instability, such as spondylolisthesis, because he may need to stabilize the spine by fusing to a certain vertebral level.
- Where do we stop the fusion on top—how far above the curve?
- To answer that question, Dr. Bridwell draws on his years of research and previous experience with patients. He’s done follow-up on many of his patients for 15 to 20 years, so he knows the long-term risks and benefits of stopping at certain vertebral levels.
No Bracing: Adult Scoliosis Thoracolumbar Curve patients do not use a brace following surgery. That’s because Dr. Bridwell’s surgery provides such stability that a brace is unnecessary.
