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A sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work, and the presence of injuries or congenital abnormalities are among the few factors in the development of spinal pathology, including scoliosis.
Scoliosis — is a curvature of the spine, relative to its longitudinal axis. With progression, the defect may increase and occur in the anteroposterior direction. The curvature stimulates deformation of the thorax and pelvic bones, which entails disruption of the heart, lungs, and intestines.
The disease is most common in children 6-15 years of age, with girls suffering more often than boys. In almost 80% of cases, the cause of the defect is unknown, in which case it is called idiopathic. The remaining 20% of scoliosis — a consequence of diseases, congenital abnormalities, deformation after trauma. However, patients have a chance to get rid of their problem and improve their quality of life. Scoliosis treatment in Germany has a long history and produces positive results for all forms of the disease.
The disease is categorized in several ways.
Depending on the cause of the occurrence:
- myopathic;
- neurogenic;
- bone underdevelopment;
- scarring;
- due to trauma.
Classification by location:
- in the cervical region;
- cervicothoracic;
- thoracic;
- thoracolumbar;
- lumbar;
- lumbosacral.
Classification according to the type of vertebral column defect:
- C-shaped, when the curvature is to one side;
- S-shaped — the defect goes in two directions;
- In the Z-shape, the pathology has three arcs of deformity;
- Kyphoscoliotic — in this type of defect, the thorax is curved, there is slouching and hunched over.
Classification by disruption of the spinal column:
- a compensated form in which a vertical line downward from the seventh cervical vertebra extends to the intergluteal crease;
- decompensated form, in which the straight line going from top to bottom does not reach the intergluteal fold, and goes to the side.
Categorized by level of severity:
- 1 degree — inclination of the defect 5-10 degrees with slouching, asymmetry in the waist, lowering of the head, change in the height of the shoulders.
- 2 degree — inclination from 11-25 degrees, with more pronounced twisting. Patients have pronounced stooping, tension of the lumbar muscles.
- 3 degree — the inclination is 26-80 degrees, combined with stooping, the appearance of a hump in the area of the ribs, changes in the height of the shoulder blades and shoulder girdle.
- 4th degree — the bend is 80 degrees. There is a curvature of the torso at a large angle, change in the position of the thorax relative to the axis of the spine.
Classification by flow:
- progressive;
- non-progressive.
It should be noted that at any stage of pathology there are problems with internal organs.
Curvature in the thoracic region contributes to breathing difficulties, shortness of breath, colds, heart pain. Pressure on the organs causes disruption of their work — frequent urination, interruptions in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. If the spine is twisted, it squeezes the spinal cord enclosed in it, which leads to paralysis of the legs, and, under unfavorable conditions, disability.
How scoliosis is diagnosed in Germany
Scoliosis is a disease that is equally widespread among both adults and children. However, in the initial stages of development, it almost does not bother a person, and proceeds without pronounced complaints. In this matter, it is important to identify the initial signs of pathology early, which will help prevent irreversible complications. Make the correct diagnosis can only be made by a doctor during examination and after the examination.
- Initial examination
During the first visit to the doctor, he or she preliminarily determines the presence of the curvature and its stage.
In the patient, the defect is manifested by the presence of unevenness of the back. The orthopedist conducts an examination in several poses: standing, sitting, lying down. The level of deviation is established by the apparatus scoliosometer. If the angle of deviation is found to be more than 7 degrees, the doctor must refer the patient for further examination.
- Radiodiagnostics
This method helps to more accurately establish the diagnosis, the degree of the disease, the strength of the bone framework, the approximate time of appearance of pathology — at birth, in early childhood or adulthood.
For accurate diagnosis, the study is performed in two projections — straight and lateral, capturing two areas — thoracic and lumbar.
- Computed tomography with optics
This examination is most often used in young children. The procedure is carried out as follows: a device in the form of horizontal lines, which imitate physiological curves, is placed on the back. The resulting image is transmitted to a computer, the information is processed and a conclusion with a diagnosis is issued in real time.
- Magnetic resonance tomography
This type of examination is used when there is already a diagnosis. As a rule, it is carried out before a planned operation, when it is necessary to see in what condition are the discs between the vertebrae, whether there are herniated discs or tumors. MRI helps to identify changes in the soft tissues.
- Computed tomography
The patient is exposed to X-rays. The data obtained from the CT scan is transmitted to a computer and processed. The CT scan detects abnormalities in the structure of hard, bony tissues.
- Electrospondylography
This method of examination measures the conductivity of the skin areas and the response of the nervous system to the device — stimulation.
Scoliosis treatment methods in German clinics
How do you determine when this problem needs to be corrected?
If the angle of curvature gradually increases and the problem has been bothering you for more than six months, it means that therapy should be carried out immediately. The disease progresses most rapidly in young people. Therefore, the correction of disorders should begin, long before the appearance of complaints, because of the rapid growth of the young body.
Curvature therapy is performed by both conservative and surgical methods.
Therapy of defects in the initial stages is carried out by conservative methods, the third and fourth stages require surgical intervention.
What is conservative correction?
- chiropractic adjustments;
- cryotherapy;
- breathing exercises;
- physical therapy;
- massage; corrective corsets.
Corsets are used in people of younger age. This type of therapy can stop the process, but it cannot cure the disease completely on its own.
German clinics offer their corsets made of high quality and durable materials that fully meet international medical standards. The corsets are designed for long-term use, they are free to use, they do not restrict movements as it is observed when wearing corrective bandages of other manufacturers. The use of correction with corsets is combined with physical procedures. After the course, the orthopedist monitors the dynamics and outlines the next stage of therapy.
There is an opinion among people that spinal surgery is unsafe. However, nowadays, surgical intervention is a way to stop the process and correct the existing defect.
The main conditions for surgical treatment are:
- curvature is 50 degrees or more;
- the index in young people is 40-45 degrees;
- presence of an aesthetic defect.
German medical centers practice many types of surgery for this problem. The doctor plans the type of treatment and the rehabilitation program.
Scoliosis surgery consists of the following:
- correction of deformities with metal structures;
- use of patient tissue or grafts;
- extraction of the altered fragment.
One of the promising therapies is transpedicular fixation of the spine.
The technique involves the insertion of titanium screws into the vertebral bodies, which perform fixation and support functions. These plates help the bones to fuse properly and quickly, without dislocation.
The method has proven itself in the treatment of various injuries — bruises, fractures, dislocations. It is used in cases of impingement of spinal roots, narrowing of the spinal canal, excessive mobility of the vertebrae.
The surgery is performed in three stages. In the preparatory phase, the design is developed and customized for the individual patient.
The second step is the installation and mounting of the screw fasteners.
In the third, rehabilitation stage, activities are carried out that should prevent even the slightest displacement of the vertebrae.
The time in the clinic after surgery is about 1 week, but the patient can move after a couple of days. In the first time it is necessary to support the spine with a special corset, the time of complete fusion of defects is one year.
How much does it cost to treat scoliosis in Germany
| Type of operation | Price | Length of hospital stay |
| Deleting a disk within a segment | 11000-13000 € | 5 days |
| Neurolysis | 4500-6000 € | 3 days |
| Vertebral fusion in the cervical region | 17000-19000 € | 7 days |
| Vertebral decompression within one segment in the lumbosacral region | 15000-30000 € | 4 days |
| Surgery for spondyloliosis with implants | 18000-21000 € | 14 days |
| Orthopedic rehabilitation | 250-700 € | Per day |
| Spondylodesis | 21000-23000 € | 7 days |
| Cryotherapy for scoliosis of the interspinous joints | 5000-8000 € | 2 days |
| Surgical treatment of scoliosis | 27000-30000 € | 21 days |
| Disc prosthetics | 12600-15000 € | 6 days |
| Endoscopic surgery | 5900-6200 € | 4 days |
| Epidural neurolysis | 8500-13000 € | 4 days |
Benefits of treatment in Germany
Surgery on the spine is highly complex, so it is recommended to perform it in specialized centers that have in their arsenal of high-precision equipment, trained professionals with extensive experience in this area.
German clinics use metal structures of their own manufacture, which are used in the first stage of surgical correction. The uniqueness of these structures is that as the spinal column grows, they also stretch, which is very physiological.
Metal constructions from German manufacturers have a number of other advantages:
- they keep the vertebrae from twisting around the implant;
- prevent the axis of the body from locking;
- prevent the deformity from reoccurring.
Scoliosis therapy in Germany has a positive result in all types of surgery, which is achieved by an individual approach to each patient.
Recently, much attention has been paid to developing new forms of endoprotectors for all ages. Children are placed with correctors that are repositioned as the patient grows.
For adult patients, specialists have developed plates for more rigid fixation, they fix the spinal column without disturbing its movements and habitual lifestyle.
Conclusions
Scoliosis, as well as other diseases, in the realities of modern Western medicine is not a sentence at all. The clinics are equipped with expert-class equipment, high-level specialists, and the ability to perform high-tech surgeries — all this gives patients with any diagnosis a chance to be cured.
In the treatment of spinal diseases, any abnormalities must be detected early. The examination should preferably be carried out with expert equipment, for which German clinics are renowned.
Orthopedic German clinics are equipped with equipment that allows to perform the most complex spinal surgeries with high precision, reducing the risks to almost zero.