Skip to main content

Treatment

Posterior Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

What You Need to Know

Posterior spinal fusion is the surgical process of straightening the spine and preventing an abnormal curve in the spine from getting worse.
Scoliosis

Children’s National Hospital has a team of highly-specialized experts that work together to correct idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents using posterior spinal fusion surgery. Children with idiopathic scoliosis have an abnormal curve in their spine and may show the following signs:

  • Shoulders are uneven
  • Head is not centered with the rest of the body
  • Hips are uneven
  • Shoulder blade heights are uneven or in different positions
  • One shoulder blade is more prominent than the other

Posterior spinal fusion is the surgical process of straightening the spine and preventing the curve from getting worse. Metal implants are used to hold the spine in a straighter position until the bones fuse together.

The team at Children’s National works to make the recovery after this surgery as easy as possible for patients and families. Our experts have created the very first Spinal Fusion Surgical Home to streamline care and facilitate faster recovery.

Related Resources

Videos on Life After Posterior Spinal Fusion

Incision Care

Safe Mobilization

Walking and Maneuvering Stairs

Meet the Providers Who Perform  Posterior Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Gabriella's Story

For Gabriella, scoliosis surgery changed her life � in more ways than she expected. Read Gabriella's Story.

Departments that Offer Posterior Spinal Fusion

    Provider with patient walking down the hallway

    Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine

    From sprains and strains to complex congenital conditions, Children's National Hospital offers one of the most experienced pediatric orthopaedic practices in the nation, with experience in treating all areas from head to toe.

Girl Smiling and Clapping

Help Kids and Make a Difference

Invest in future cures for some of life's most devastating diseases. Give today to help more children grow up stronger.

Girl Smiling and Clapping