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Degenerative scoliosis is a distortion of the spinal column. It can have different forms and different causes.
It is to be distinguished between the scoliosis that occurs in youth. Degenerative scoliosis is observed in older persons. The type of scoliosis that occurs in younger people generally is described under idiopathic scoliosis. However, solid fusion of the back or implantation of long rods is no longer the only treatment options.
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The main cause of the degenerative scoliosis is the wearing of the spinal disks with associated intervertebral disc height reduction, leading to instability of the spinal column. If this instability cannot be corrected by the muscle volume apparatus, different forms of scoliosis can develop as the body’s focal point shifts causing, bad posture,
sloping of the pelvic girdle, sacroiliitis and much of more. These variations and incorrect loading of the spine are connected frequently with back pain. However, nerve pain in the legs can be experience, due to narrowing of the nerve exit points, which is called neuroforamina stenosis.
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As seen in the above images, treatment begins with the concept of 360 motion preservation, which is a strategy that applies different techniques to each level. In the above case we see treatments, such as Dynamic Stabilization System (DSS) in combination with Artificial Disc Replacement, DSS motion connector in the upper level to correct and stabilize curvature in the upper spine and DSS fusion connectors in combination with a zero profile fusion to make a 360 fusion to preserve stability at the apex of the curve and rotation. (DSS has the unique ability to couple between fusion and ADR segments.)
Common symptoms of the degenerative scoliosis patient are:
1. Frequent back pains
2. Leg pain such as a prickling, numbness and paralysis in the legs. |
Degenerative Scoliosis
