Discovered to have scoliosis from the age of 12, Y.T. had been treated for conservation with orthopedic splints in the locality for a long time. However, the scoliosis condition did not improve but gradually progressed.
When she came to the hospital for examination, the patient's gait was clearly offset, and her shoulders were imbalanced. For 6-7 years, this condition not only affected daily life but also put psychological pressure on the young girl.
According to BSCK1 Vo Doan Tien, Department of Neurosurgery - Spine, Minh Anh International Hospital, through examination and full-axis X-ray using the EOS system in a standing position, doctors recorded that the patient's scoliosis angle was up to 76 degrees, accompanied by severe hump.
Usually, scoliosis from 45-50 degrees or more can be indicated for surgery. With a degree of scoliosis of 76 degrees, patients are at risk of thoracic deformity, affecting respiratory and circulatory function if the condition continues to progress.
The challenge for the surgical team is to adjust the spine, improve the balance of the two shoulders but at the same time ensure safety for the spinal cord and nervous system.
The surgery lasted about 5 hours. During the surgery, doctors used a neurological electrophysiological monitoring system during surgery to continuously monitor motor and sensory functions, especially in the screw-up and spinal correction steps. The C-arm system is also used to assist in checking position during surgery.
2 days after surgery, the patient was able to sit up, walk gently and perform basic personal activities on her own.
According to BSCK1 Vo Doan Tien, the above case is an example of chronic scoliosis, the disease usually starts in puberty, around 10-15 years old, and is more common in women than men.
Parents can proactively observe children at home to detect abnormal signs. When letting children stand bowed forward, relaxing their hands, they can observe from behind to see if the shoulders and shoulder blades are either high or low or whether the waist is unbalanced.
Parents need to pay attention if the child's gait is tilted to one side or the clothes are often tilted to one side when worn.
Early detection helps doctors assess the degree of scoliosis and choose appropriate treatment methods. According to doctors, when the scoliosis angle is above 10 degrees, the child is diagnosed with scoliosis and needs specialized monitoring.
With a scoliosis angle of about 20-40 degrees, children can be treated conservatively with orthopedic splints depending on the case. Wearing splints requires adherence to the prescribed time and periodic check-ups.
When the angle is 45-50 degrees or higher, the doctor may consider performing surgery based on the age, severity and specific condition of the patient.
Parents should not arbitrarily massage or twist the spine for children at non-specialized facilities. Physical therapy can be used as a supportive method as directed, but does not replace orthopedic splints or surgery when the patient has indicated intervention.
