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About Our Spine and Scoliosis Specialists in New York

The NYSI Center for Scoliosis and Spinal Deformity provides cutting-edge surgical care to patients and is committed to positive patient outcomes.

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What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a common condition in which the spine curves to the side instead of having a straight, vertical appearance when viewed from the front or the back. In scoliosis, there can be one or more curves that often have a “C” or “S” shape. Most cases of scoliosis occur in teenagers, but younger children and adults can also develop it. Learn more about severe, moderate, and mild scoliosis.

Scoliosis Treatments We Perform

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About Our Spine and Scoliosis Specialists in New York

The NYSI Center for Scoliosis and Spinal Deformity provides cutting-edge surgical care to patients and is committed to positive patient outcomes.

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WHO GETS SCOLIOSIS?

Scoliosis most often develops between the ages of 10-18. Boys and girls can develop Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), though AIS curves in girls are 5-8X more likely to increase in size & require treatment. AIS curves are most likely to progress during adolescent growth spurts. In 85% of cases, the exact cause is unknown but AIS tends to run in families with 30% of adolescent patients have a family history of scoliosis. Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) affects children younger than 10 years of age. Since young children have more growing ahead of them, EOS tends to cause faster developing and more severe curves than adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SCOLIOSIS?

Children should be evaluated if:

  • Clothes hang unevenly
  • Shoulders or waist look uneven
  • One hip appears higher than the other
  • One shoulder blade is more prominent
  • Child leans to one side.

In severe cases, patients may also experience:

  • Reduced range of motion
  • Back Pain
  • Trouble breathing and cardiovascular issues from the rib cage pressing on the lungs and heart (more common in severe early-onset scoliosis cases)

HOW IS SCOLIOSIS TREATED?

There are three primary options for treating those diagnosed with scoliosis. These can include:*

  • Observation: Mainly appropriate for smaller curves, which are at a lower risk for progression, and many not cause as much problems during adulthood. However, if your child has been diagnosed with a curve between 25 and 40 degrees, and are between 15 and 17 years old, then observation is appropriate.
  • Physical therapy: Physical therapy is strongly encouraged for mobility and movement purposes, as well as to decrease pain and restore function in recently repaired areas. By engaging in active and passive stretching, exercise programs, and through the use of modalities, patients can be taught proper body mechanics, postural awareness, and home exercises to provide maintenance of their current condition.*
  • Surgery: Mostly recommended for adults whose spinal curve is greater than 50 degrees. The most frequent procedure performed involves posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation and bone grafting, also known as “Posterior approach.”*

*It is important to note that not always will results be guaranteed by New York Spine Institute; all effectiveness of the diagnosis and treatment will accord to patient and the condition.

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Scoliosis in Adults

As people age, minor changes in the alignment and natural curvature of the spine are common and usually do not lead to significant problems. However, deformities that cause the spinal column to bend too much can have a considerable impact on quality of life, causing significant pain or reduced ability to stand or walk. At NYSI’s scoliosis treatment center, our experienced physicians specialize in treating a range of conditions that can lead to spinal deformities.

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Scoliosis in Adolescents & Children

Most often, scoliosis develops in patients between the ages 10 and 18. In approximately 85% of cases, the exact cause is not known and is referred to as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). AIS tends to run in families – approximately 30% of adolescent patients have a family history of scoliosis.

Progression is most common during the growing years. At NYSI, our experienced scoliosis specialists treat scoliosis and similar conditions in adolescents and children.

Scoliosis Treatment Procedures

Your child’s scoliosis specialist may recommend one of the following procedures:

Definitive fusion: The traditional and most common type of surgical procedure to treat adolescent scoliosis. Small pieces of bone, usually taken from the patient’s lower spine, as well as metal rods and screws are implanted to realign and fuse together the curved vertebrae so that they heal into a single, solid bone to correct and stabilize the deformity.

Vertebral body tethering: An innovative, less invasive surgical procedure using an implanted rope-like device that can adjust bone growth of the spine during the period of rapid growth spurts when adolescent spinal curvature typically progress.

In addition to definitive fusion, procedures to treat EOS include:

Guided growth treatment: Anchors are placed in the top, middle and bottom on both sides of the spine and connected by rods. The rods slide within the anchors while guiding the spine into straighter position as the patient grows.

Traditional distraction-based treatment: An initial surgery is performed to implant a growing rod(s) on the spine to gain control over the deformity. As the child grows, usually twice a year, the doctor will manipulate the rod through a small incision to straighten and lengthen the spine. This is done under general anesthesia.

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Rebecca’s Story

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Sarah’s Story

Dr. Alexandre de Moura and New York Spine Institute are absolutely wonderful! I have personally seen the level of personal care and dedication when one of my seriously injured clients was treated there (I am a personal injury attorney). He had a terrific recovery and I credit Dr. de Moura and his staff with that.

A.Z.

Why Choose New York Spine Institute’s Scoliosis Experts

Quality Care

Every patient is treated as an individual. We offer custom treatment plans utilizing our diagnostic services to help our patients on the road to recovery.*

Industry Leaders

Our diagnostic imaging specialists have thorough training and years of experience successfully helping patients.*

Multiple Languages

Our staff speaks a multitude of languages including Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German and Russian to accommodate our patients of all backgrounds.*

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