Spinal Fusion for the Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis in Children: Orthopedic Surgery to Treat Curvature of the Back in Children and Teenagers

Edited By: Kit M. Song, M.D.
Last updated Thursday, October 20, 2005

Recovering from surgery

How much pain do patients usually have after idiopathic scoliosis for idiopathic scoliosis and what medications are used to manage it?

Scoliosis and spine surgery can be quite painful. In major medical centers where spinal fusions are performed on a regular basis, there is often a pain service with specially trained staff to help manage the patient’s pain after surgery. Intravenous use of medications, such as morphine, are used. This is often given with a patient controlled analgesic (PCA) which is a pump with a push button allowing for more rapid delivery of medication when necessary. Typically, intravenous pain medication is used for three to four days after the procedure. The patient usually transitions to oral medication by day four or five. Patients are then discharged from the hospital on oral pain medication.  More recently, epidural catheters have been left in the space adjacent to the spinal cord and pain medications are delivered directly to the spine for a few days before transitioning to oral pain medications.

Pain medication will generally be needed for two to three weeks after discharge from the hospital. The pain is usually managed well with oral medications by the time the patient leaves the hospital. At this time, they are also able to move about without much limitation. 

How does pain medication usually affect pain and comfort following idiopathic scoliosis for idiopathic scoliosis?

After idiopathic scoliosis for idiopathic scoliosis, what happens in the hospital and when is the patient usually discharged?

The typical course of recovery after spinal fusion is for the patient to sit on the edge of the bed the first day after surgery. By the second day after surgery, the patient is up and walking in the room and later in the hallway. Pain medications are given by IV for three to four days after surgery. A liquid diet is started shortly after surgery and is advanced rapidly to a regular food program. 

X-rays are taken with the patient in an upright position three to four days after surgery to make sure the spinal instrumentation is in the same place it was left at the end of surgery. On average, the length of stay is about four to five days in the hospital.

What is the recovery from idiopathic scoliosis for idiopathic scoliosis? What type of rehabilitation is started in the hospital?

A physical therapist will initially assist the patient in getting out of bed. Following that, the goal is to have the patient move independently and to be able to get out of bed with only minimal assistance by the time they are discharged.

Most patients are extremely tired and fatigued for about three to four weeks after the operation. This is because the body requires a large amount of energy to heal from surgery like this and because blood counts are low due to blood loss during surgery. By four or five weeks after the surgery, most patients are feeling pretty well and by six weeks, frequently parents must slow their children down to avoid a too rapid return to full activity. 

After idiopathic scoliosis for idiopathic scoliosis, what happens at hospital discharge and what are the patient's limitations at that time?

Generally, patients will be restricted from sport activities and heavy lifting for at least six weeks. After six weeks, patients are allowed to do a little bit of light swimming. The weight limitation for lifting is about 10 to 15 pounds. School-age patients will typically miss about four weeks of school. Parents are advised to secure an extra set of books at school so patients do not have to carry a heavy backpack to and from classes and to arrange for children to be released from class a few minutes early to avoid the rush in the hallways. 

After three months, patients may return to light sports. This includes running on level ground, swimming and riding a bicycle.

After six months, they can return to full activity.

What type of help do patients need after idiopathic scoliosis for idiopathic scoliosis and for how long? Can they go home or do they require a convalescent facility?

Patients can go home following spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis and they do not require a convalescent facility. They will need some help from their family members to move up and down stairs and to walk until they can do so without assistance.

All rehabilitation can be completed at home and does not require special expertise. The goal in the first four to six weeks after surgery is simply to increase the distance of walking each day. 

Surgery for Idiopathic Scoliosis at the University of Washington

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