Technology and treatment options for patients have now changed dramatically for the better after a scoliosis operation.

After a routine scoliosis surgery, patients are admitted to the intensive care unit, where focused nursing care speeds recovery. These angels take excellent care of our patients, and so both the patient and their family know that there’s one nurse who responds to all their needs. For pain, there's a catheter, up against the spinal cord, and the narcotics are pumped directly onto the cord. So, the pain is treated where it exists and there's no need to make the patient so sleepy that they can’t follow requests.

The day after surgery, some patients may actually sit in a chair and take one or two steps. By the third day they’ll stand and walk, and by the fourth day will often walk in the halls. After discharge, which happens routinely on the fifth day, patients from out of town (and many from in town) are sent to the rehab hospital to spend another week regaining their abilities to practice all the activities of daily living.

After surgery, some patients require a brace. Modern braces are light thermoplastic, so they’re easily put on and taken off by the patient. There's no need to sleep or bath in them. Patients wear them for about three months.