Posterior Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic 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

A Guide to Posterior Spinal Fusion (PDF)

Videos on Life After Posterior Spinal Fusion 

• Incision Care
• Safe Mobilization
• Walking and Maneuvering Stairs