Risks related to surgery

There are always risks involved with any surgery and being put to sleep during surgery. The chance that any complications will happen is very low.  We do everything we can to prevent complications. The doctors and nurses will make sure you know what the risks are and answer all your questions before surgery.

Special x-rays taken before surgery help the doctor decide where your spine should be straightened.  During surgery, your doctor untwists your spine and attaches two rods to either side.  He will use special hooks and screws to do this.  

In most patients, the rods are also attached to the pelvis.  This is done if your hips are slanted or tipped.

Bone chips from our bone bank are then placed over your spine (called a bone graft). Over the next 6 months, the bone chips grow into the spaces between your backbones (vertebrae) and hold them straight.  They act like cement.

This is called a "spinal fusion." Until the bone chips fuse together, and the rods will support your back and keep it from curving again.  Most of the time, casting or bracing is not needed after surgery.

All patients lose some blood during surgery. Sometimes you need to get some blood back afterwards. If you do need blood, we can get it from our blood bank.