For families facing a scoliosis diagnosis, the path forward can feel uncertain. But new advancements in treatment are redefining what’s possible for young patients. At Mayo Clinic Children’s, the expert pediatric orthopedic surgery team—Dr. A. Noelle Larson and Dr. Todd A. Milbrandt, together with pediatric surgeon Dr. D. Dean Potter Jr.—are transforming the future of scoliosis care.
Reshaping Treatment With Vertebral Body Tethering
Traditional scoliosis surgery involves spinal fusion, but Dr. Larson, Dr. Milbrandt, and their team offer an alternative for growing patients called vertebral body tethering (VBT). This minimally invasive procedure uses a flexible tether attached to the spine to correct spinal curvature, so it can keep growing while preserving mobility. Unlike spinal fusion, which permanently joins vertebrae and limits flexibility, VBT can maintain the spine’s natural motion and flexibility, significantly reducing pain and recovery time.
“We performed our first vertebral tethering procedure in 2015,” Dr. Larson notes. “At that point, it was prior to FDA approval.” In 2019, VBT was approved by the FDA as a humanitarian-use device for the treatment of pediatric scoliosis and it remains a promising treatment option.
The Advantage of a Multidisciplinary Surgical Team
A multidisciplinary surgical team brings together the right experts to deliver exceptional care for each child. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons specialize in correcting spinal alignment, stabilizing the spine, and preserving long-term spinal health, while pediatric surgeons have familiarity with the surgical approach for VBT and complex spine procedures. This integrated approach ensures every aspect of the patient’s treatment is addressed, reducing complications and improving long-term outcomes.
Enhancing Surgical Planning With Technology
Another way Mayo Clinic Children’s is advancing pediatric scoliosis care is by integrating technology into surgery. Through 3D anatomic modeling, specialists can create anatomic models for each patient, allowing for highly tailored surgical planning. For conditions like scoliosis, where spinal curvature varies greatly in every patient, these unique models provide invaluable insights that can improve surgical outcomes.
Other innovative tools like low-dose intraoperative CT-guided navigation are regularly used to provide real-time imaging during surgery. This allows for greater precision and accuracy, ensuring every step of the procedure is as safe and effective as possible. Working with the radiologists and radiation physicists at Mayo Clinic, the pediatric spine team recently developed a low-dose protocol to limit the amount of radiation for scoliosis patients undergoing CT-guided navigation.
A Promising Future for Patients With Pediatric Scoliosis
As pediatric scoliosis treatment continues to evolve, the integration of VBT, 3D modeling, and advanced technologies like intraoperative CT-guided navigation are transforming how surgeons like Dr. Larson and Dr. Milbrandt approach complex cases. By pursuing innovative solutions, the future of pediatric scoliosis treatment looks promising.
Mayo Clinic Children’s offers comprehensive treatment options for scoliosis, including physical therapy, casting for early onset scoliosis, specialized bracing, magnetically controlled growing rods, and motion-sparing surgical intervention such as VBT and posterior dynamic distraction, in addition to spinal fusion for complex cases.
Learn more or schedule an appointment with a specialist by calling 855-629-6543.
