As the average age of the population gradually increases, problems related to spinal deformity in adults are one of the most frequent, complex and serious problems faced by spine specialists.

Our knowledge in this field has evolved over the last 15 years, with the result that the correct and effective treatment of these problems requires constant information and expertise, as well as treatment by an organized medical team.

Scientific research and clinical experience have proven that the basis of the problem of spinal deformity in adults goes beyond the description of the classic terms, such as kyphosis, scoliosis and lordosis.

The basic pathological problem is now known by the scientific term “spinal imbalance in the sagittal plane” (sagittal imbalance). This problem is mainly caused by age-related degenerative changes of the spine and leads to serious problems such as pain throughout the spine from the neck to the pelvis, neurological symptoms such as sciatica and pain in the lower extremities which makes walking difficult, as well as deformation of the whole body, negatively affecting the patients’ quality of life to a very serious extent. Deterioration of paraspinal muscle function has recently been recognized as an additional key determinant of the problem.

In which people does the deformity occur?

The problem occurs in middle-aged or older people with persistent pain in the lower back (low back pain), but several times also with pain that extends along the entire length of the spine from the neck, back to the hip area. This pain becomes worse with prolonged standing and walking, increasingly limiting even simple daily movements of the person. It is characteristic that the usual activities at home, or outside it, become more and more difficult and the patient sometimes reaches the point of feeling intense fatigue after only a few minutes of mobility or even that his body begins to “tilt” preventing even the simplest daily activities.

The problem usually develops slowly and gradually over several years. Initially, especially at younger ages, both the spine and the hips have the ability to “compensate” for the evolving deformity and the problem is limited to mild transient discomforts that are tolerable. However, over the years the continued deformity can lead to severe symptoms that severely limit even simple activities of daily living.

It is very important that the correct assessment and analysis of this problem be done as early as possible by an Orthopedic specialist in spine diseases, based on modern perceptions and knowledge on the specific subject. It is also important to emphasize that a full understanding of this problem by the scientific community has actually only been achieved in recent years. The detailed assessment and analysis is usually done with special radiological control (not the known simple radiographs) and measurements of specific parameters. Magnetic Tomography can also help, especially when there is a narrowing involving the spinal nerves.

Therapeutic management of spinal deformity

The treatment of spinal deformity in adults depends on many factors, mainly the degree of spinal deformity and the body’s ability to “compensate” for the condition. Although in some cases conservative treatment with physical therapy and special exercises can relieve the symptoms, in the vast majority of cases the problem has already progressed to such an extent that these measures are not enough. Therefore, the treatment of the problem is surgical.

Spinal osteotomy procedure

With the rapid progress and recent developments in spine surgery, many surgical options have been developed to correct spinal deformity in adults, even when it is of a large degree. Surgical solutions range from minimally invasive to major operations.

Spinal osteotomy has been shown to be particularly effective in correcting spinal deformity in adults. This is a relatively long, but by today’s standards safe, operation that restores the normal “profile” of the spine, permanently restoring the alignment and balance of the body. The results after spinal osteotomies have been shown to be particularly satisfactory, even in cases of severe deformities in older people. In addition, the use of the latest technologies, such as robotic surgery, neuronavigation, and intraoperative neuromonitoring, have contributed to increasing operative precision, minimizing surgical risks, and accelerating postoperative recovery.

in conclusion

Problems caused by spinal deformity in adults are often difficult and until recently rarely found any solution. However, today, with the appropriate diagnosis and analysis of the problem and the corresponding modern surgical treatment by a specialized medical team, it is now possible to free people of all ages from pain and limitations and restore their ability to live independently and enjoy a normal and completely satisfactory life level of quality of life.