Patient question: My wife has an S curve with both curves being at 50 degrees. She is now 46 years old. The doctor said that surgery is not imperative at this moment but it is something that will eventually have to be done. Since we are getting older, it will become more and more difficult to recover from the surgery. So is it better for her to start surgery earlier, or should we wait as long as possible until surgery has to be done?”

Expert answer:

There are several standards for starting surgery in Scoliosis:

First, spinal curve of over 50 degrees;

Second, spinal curve of 40 to 50 degree that progress rapidly.

Thirdly, other considerations, such as risk of severe complications

Scoliosis operation is a large surgery. It is a process of spinal fusion to straighten the spine. Because your spinal bones protect your spinal cord, your surgeon will move the bones only as far as is safe. As people grow older, the bones become more fragile than young people so there needs overall evaluation of the patient’s condition before determining surgery.

In daily life, it needs to take care to balance nutrition support to make stronger bones. If the patient condition continues to get worse, with complications such as lung damage getting severer, there may be need for initiating surgery and you will need to communicate with the doctor.

So how about your wife’ s general condition now? Does she have symptoms or complications related to Scoliosis? You may email me to scoliosisdoctor123@gmail.com about detailed description of her illness condition and lab reports to me for the help needed.