Treatment for Early Onset Scoliosis
Your experience begins with a comprehensive evaluation by our experts. The team will review your child's medical history, perform the necessary tests and then present a casting plan or surgical treatment plan tailored to address his or her individual condition.
The Crawford Spine Center treats every form of early onset scoliosis including congenital scoliosis and progressive scoliosis in infants and children. We offer a complete spectrum of treatment - from non-operative approaches to minimally invasive techniques using the latest technology developed by our world-renowned physicians. Your child's treatment may include:
- Casting
- Non-fusion surgery or growing rod surgery
- Vertical expanding prosthetic titanium ribs procedure (VEPTR surgery)
Casting at the Crawford Spine Center
Traditional scoliosis surgery in childhood can significantly limit a child's growth and have lifelong effects on lung function. The technique of casting, available at the Crawford Spine Center, appears to control the progression of scoliosis in younger children while allowing their spine and chest to continue growing and their lungs to develop normally.
Dr. Sturm specializes in a casting technique for very young children with early onset scoliosis. The technique uses a lightweight plaster cast to guide the spine out of its curve during the years when children are growing most rapidly. The goal of this less invasive treatment method is to avoid surgery altogether – or at the very least, to postpone it until the child reaches adolescence.
