Minimally Invasive Scoliosis Surgery for Patients in New York

Scoliosis accounts for 20% of all spinal deformity cases in the USA.  Onset of the disease most commonly occurs before age 12.  Every year, 74,000 emergency room visits each year are for scoliosis symptoms.

But scoliosis care has changed dramatically in recent times.  Along with surgical breakthroughs, doctors increasingly choose non-invasive options to treat scoliosis.  Among these are bracing, physical therapy, Yoga, Pilates and other stretching and strengthening regimes which can support many patients living with this challenge.

But when conservative treatments aren’t improving patient quality of life, surgery is indicated.

(MISS) Minimally invasive scoliosis surgery.

Minimally invasive scoliosis surgery is a modern response to traditional surgical techniques. At Scoliosis and Spine Associates, Dr. Baron Lonner is one of a few global practitioners of the VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic scoliosis surgery) technique.

Used in only a handful of centers around the world, VATS stands as a notable advance in the realm of MISS practice, making the procedure more precise, due to the use of an internal scope to guide the surgeon.

A new way of doing things.

A traditional approach to scoliosis surgery required an anterior incision to reach affected vertebrae, occasioning a large incision in the chest cavity.  It was established, over time, that this method exposed patients to more serious complications (lung infection among them).  The sizable scar and pain following this style of surgery made it an unfavorable approach.

The development of techniques to correcting disc anomalies through the back of the spine caused the anterior method to decline in popularity, but a recent study has shown that the anterior approach, combined with the posterior approach, implicating the use of pedicle screws, is an effective method for treating scoliosis, when VATS is an element of MISS.

By using a scope and two very small incisions (only an inch long), VATS surgeries result in less blood loss and take less than an hour to perform.  There’s little scarring and radically reduced recovery time with this technique.

Another benefit is that healthy tissue undergoes significantly less trauma with this method, due to dilation technology which eliminates the need to cut through adjacent muscle.

Who can benefit?

Patients with a thoracic spinal curvature greater than 70° are ideal patients for this style of surgery.  Also, if the curvature is markedly rigid, MISS using the VATS method has delivered outstanding outcomes.

If you’re struggling with an acute scoliosis curvature, MISS using VATS may be the right response for you, particularly if non-invasive treatment options haven’t proven effective.

Renowned expertise at Scoliosis and Spine Associates.

With over 20 years in surgical practice, Dr. Baron Lonner has treated more than 20,000 patients with spinal deformities.  At Scoliosis and Spine, we’ve been successfully treating scoliosis with minimally invasive scoliosis surgery for patients in New York, deploying MISS/VATS technology.

You’re in expert hands with Dr. Lonner.

We’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to quality care, enjoying enviable patient outcomes.  We invite you to contact us for a consultation to explore treating your scoliosis with our leading edge surgical techniques.