What is Thoracoscopic Scoliosis Surgery (keyhole surgery)?
Most commonly this technique is offered to younger patients, mostly teenagers, who have a scoliosis curve of around 40 degrees or more in the thoracic spine. The surgery is performed under a special anaesthetic that permits one of the lungs to be deflated to expose the spine inside the chest cavity. Special keyhole telescopic instruments allow the doctor to enter the chest cavity and work on the section of spine that makes up the scoliosis. A single screw is placed into each vertebra bone through three or four portal holes, 2cm long, in the side wall of the chest. The patient needs to be asleep on their side for the duration of the surgery, which will be four to five hours. There is usually no need for a brace after surgery. A titanium metal rod and screws are placed into the vertebrae (usually six or seven screws) and the curve corrected. It is not possible to fully straighten the spine. Bone graft from the bone bank is placed in the discs between the screws. • 3D CT Reconstruction of
