Treatments

At Children's Hospital, we practice collaborative, family-centered care. Our multidisciplinary team includes world-renowned orthopedic physicians and surgeons, pediatric nurses, physical therapists, neurologists, rehabilitation doctors, therapists, social workers and others who specialize in pediatric patients. Together, we partner with you to treat your child with neuromuscular scoliosis.

Treatment varies according to the type and severity of your child's neuromuscular scoliosis.

Nonsurgical options for neuromuscular scoliosis

The following nonsurgical options are available to control spinal curves and improve your child's quality of life with neuromuscular scoliosis:

• Back bracing to support the spine
• Wheelchair modification
• Physical therapy

Members of your child's healthcare team can also offer suggestions on how to adapt your child's everyday environment to improve his or her mobility.

Surgical options for neuromuscular scoliosis

If your child needs spine surgery to treat neuromuscular scoliosis, the type of surgery recommended will depend on the degree of your child's spinal curve, your child's age and stage of growth.

The most common spine surgeries are:

• Implanting growing rods — This procedure is appropriate for children who are still growing. 
• Spinal fusion — This procedure is best suited for children who have reached skeletal maturity or for whom growing rods are not a consideration.

A third option, vertical expandable prosthetic titanium ribs (VEPTR), may be recommended for children with neuromuscular scoliosis that is also affecting their rib and lung development, causing thoracic insufficiency syndrome. Left untreated, thoracic insufficiency syndrome can be fatal.

Because neuromuscular scoliosis is often associated with other underlying conditions — such as spinal muscular atrophy — your child's care team will work closely with specialists from neurology, pulmonology, gastroenterology and others to treat your child's overall health.

We offer a wealth of resources about how to prepare your child for surgery, what to expect during surgery and specific ways we make safety in surgery a top priority.

Growing rods and VEPTR

Growing rods and VEPTR can stabilize and straighten the spine, as well as correct rib cage problems.

Growing rod surgery is done through the back of the spine. In most cases, the curve in the child's back is spanned by one or two rods under the skin to avoid damaging the growth tissue of the spine. The rods are attached to the spine at two spots — above and below the curve.

In VEPTR surgery, the expandable titanium ribs are implanted into a child's back and chest and anchored to the spine, ribs, pelvis or collarbone. The VEPTR helps to correct and stabilize the curved spine, allowing your child's ribs, lungs and spine to grow and develop more fully.

Whichever device is implanted will need to be expanded or lengthened every six to eight months as your child grows. Your child will need to return to the hospital for minor surgery to adjust the rods until skeletal maturity (about 14 years old for girls and 16 years old for boys).

Spinal fusion

If your child has stopped growing — or growing rods are not a viable surgical option — spinal fusion may be recommended as an option to permanently correct and stabilize the spine. In this procedure, the abnormal curved spinal bones may be realigned, fused together and metal implants inserted to correct the curvature.

Post-op recovery

Most patients receiving any type of spinal surgery to treat neuromuscular scoliosis will spend between five and 10 days in the Hospital, during which time caregivers will closely monitor the child's lung function, fluid and nutrition levels.

Our care team will also encourage your child to move around as soon as possible and modify a wheelchair for your child to improve his seated position, if appropriate.

Follow-up care

The Hospital is committed to partnering with you to provide the most current, comprehensive and specialized follow-up care possible for your child.

Patients who receive surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis at CHOP are followed closely for the first one to two years after surgery, then at regular intervals afterwards at our Main Campus or one of our CHOP Care Network locations.

CHOP was the first institution in the U.S. to introduce “EOS micro-dose” for use in scoliosis follow up. Micro-dose uses one-third of the standard EOS radiation dose, further reducing radiation exposure for children who may require frequent imaging.

We also recognize your child's pediatrician as an important part of the care team, and will provide regular updates on your child's progress. If your child requires continued care into adulthood, we will help transition care to an adult orthopedic team.

Outlook for children with neuromuscular scoliosis

Outcomes for children treated for neuromuscular scoliosis are typically good. The outlook for your child depends more on the nature, severity and effects of his neuromuscular disease, and less on the scoliosis.

With successful spinal surgery and careful post-operative care, a straighter spine can improve your child's breathing, decrease his or her vulnerability to respiratory problems, and improve the ability to sit in a stable seating position to promote activities of daily living.