Bumrungrad International Hospital - Robotic Scoliosis Center

At the Robotic Scoliosis Center, we provide diagnostic and therapeutic services for the treatment of scoliosis, through both surgical and non-surgical methods. We consider the effectiveness of each treatment method as well as the patient’s safety before committing to a treatment plan. Our treatment methods apply modern medical technology which meets international standards.

Overview

Our goal is to help patients recover fully and return to normal as soon as possible, with a high quality of life.

The advanced diagnostic center is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.
Operating rooms are fully sterilized and come equipped with modern equipment such as the “C-Arm” surgical imaging system and “O-Arm” surgical imaging system to accurately locate the target area. This allows the surgeon to get a clear view of the area being operated on and helps to prevent nerve damage.
Surgeons are able to perform minimally-invasive surgeries with the help of the robotic systems and navigation systems so that patients are able to recover much faster.
Patients are closely monitored through all stages of surgery. Routine health check-ups are performed and patient education is offered for both during hospitalization and post-treatment — including how to go about daily life post-operation.
The center consists of a team of highly skilled specialists, including spine surgeons, internists, anesthesiologists, rehabilitation specialists, physical therapists, and specially trained nurses in the area of scoliosis.

What is scoliosis?

Normally, our spines are supposed to be aligned straight vertically. People suffering from scoliosis, however, have a spine that curves either slightly or severely, in the shape of a “C,” or in the shape of an “S.” Curvatures can lean towards the right or the left side.

Causes of scoliosis

Many cases of scoliosis have no known cause — collectively known as idiopathic scoliosis. If the scoliosis occurs as a result of genetics, it is broken down and categorized based on the patient’s symptoms, as follows:

Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis – Scoliosis with no known cause developing before age 3

Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis (JIS) – Scoliosis with no known cause developing between ages 4-10

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) – Scoliosis with no known cause developing between ages 10-18. This type is the most common type.

Scoliosis can also be broken down as follows:

Congenital Scoliosis – Scoliosis that develops while in the womb

Functional Scoliosis – Scoliosis during childhood that develops as a result of some other physical issue, such as uneven leg length, muscle shrinkage, or the result of an accident or activities that promote repeated uneven balance

Neuromuscular Scoliosis – Scoliosis resulting from a brain or spinal cord disorder, in which the nerves and muscles are unable to maintain an appropriate alignment of the spine

Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis – Scoliosis that occurs in older adults due to prolonged pressure and load on the spine over time

Symptoms of scoliosis

Symptoms of scoliosis may include:

Uneven shoulders / high shoulder blades (scapulas)
Uneven waist
Uneven hips

If symptoms intensify, apart from a spinal curvature that leans towards the left or right side of the body, the spinal cord may even bend forward or backward as well as develop a spinal rotation (twisting of the spine).

Risk factors

Common risk factors for scoliosis include:

Age – The onset of scoliosis most often occurs in childhood before adolescence
Sex – Both boys and girls have the same chance of developing scoliosis; however, girls are more likely to experience more severe symptoms
Family history – Although most cases of scoliosis involve no family history of the condition, genetics can be the cause in some cases

Side effects

Even if symptoms are not severe, possible side effects of scoliosis include:

Lungs and heart not fully functioning – This may occur in cases of severe scoliosis where there is severe deformity of the spine, sometimes occurring with a deformity of the hips as well — which affects heart and lung function, causing the patient to feel fatigued more than usual
Back problems – People with scoliosis as a child have a higher risk of experiencing back pain later in life
Unusual appearance – As the condition progresses, symptoms will become increasingly noticeable. For example, the shoulders and hips become increasingly uneven, and/or the rib cage protrudes. Additionally, these symptoms can all cause emotional distress

Treatment

A treatment plan is determined after the doctor comes to a diagnosis; treatment may include:

Back brace – Some patients may be required to wear a back brace to correct the spinal curvature. However, this method may not be suitable for young patients who are still growing. The back brace is designed to slow the progression of the curvature. Patients will generally be required to wear the brace at all times except during exercise or bathing.

Some patients may wear the brace only when sleeping. These braces are usually only used by people with 25-40 degrees’ curvature. People with curvatures of 40-50 degrees may also wear a back brace but are generally advised to undergo surgery.

Scoliosis surgery – The doctor may recommend that patients undergo surgery if all other treatment methods have proved unsuccessful or if the scoliosis is so severe that surgery is the only suitable option.

Spine surgery

Spine surgery is quite complex and can be performed many different ways, depending on the patient’s age and individual symptoms.

For patients who are still growing, the doctor may recommend surgery if wearing a brace proves unsuccessful. For adult patients, the doctor may recommend surgery if pain is present to the point that the patient is unable to perform daily activities or if there is more than a 45-50 degree curvature.

Robotic Scoliosis Center