Scoliosis, a curve in the spine, is not always easy to notice. It can be present at birth, show up in adolescence or become an issue later in adulthood, when a degenerative spine condition becomes too uncomfortable to ignore.  If you have scoliosis, early detection is key to making treatment more successful.

Sutter Medical Center is proud to be able to offer children and adults one of the nation's leading scoliosis diagnostic and treatment centers, with the expertise to perform minimally invasive scoliosis correction. Patients travel from many parts of the country and other parts of the world to receive scoliosis care through our Sutter spine surgeons.

Expert Detection

When you or your child comes to Sutter Medical Center for an examination, you will undergo spinal X-rays to give your doctor a clear picture of the curvature. The doctor may also request a computed tomography (CT) scan of the spine or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine to spot degenerative complications and get a more detailed look that includes the effect spinal curvature is having on the spinal cord and nerves, and on surrounding tissues and organs.

If you are diagnosed with scoliosis, your back and spine specialist will recommend a treatment plan for you or your child. Treatment can include watchful waiting, physical therapy, spinal bracing, minimally invasive or traditional surgical care. The doctor determines the best course of care by considering your age and health, as well as the severity of the curvature and its impact on mobility, and neurological and organ function. Children through adolescence receive care through a combined program of Sutter Neuroscience Institute and Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento to ensure they feel comfortable and secure during all testing and treatment.

Scoliosis: Minimally Invasive Surgery

Sutter Medical Center’s Scoliosis Diagnosis and Treatment Center is recognized for helping to develop minimally invasive scoliosis surgery, offering new treatment options for adults and children with scoliosis and degenerative lumbar disorders. Our innovative approach to spine and scoliosis surgery minimizes incision scarring and reduces the amount of damage to tissue and blood loss occurring during surgery. In follow-up studies, the minimally invasive approach has proven effective, with shortened recovery times and fewer complications. This approach is not possible with all cases, so each patient must undergo a careful evaluation to determine if minimally invasive surgery is indicated.