How has your flexibility been? I know you lose a lot with a fusion, which really scares me. I have pretty bad adult degenerative scoliosis and am scheduled for a fusion in a month. I already had a lower lumber fusion 3 years ago, so I know what I'm in for. Thanks!
I won't be able to get the exact answer from this patient, since this video is years ago, the vast majority of patients have no significant flexibility or mobility issues after surgery. You can compensate well through hips and other spine levels not fused. In the adult, often the scoliotic and kyphotic regions have significant degeneration and facet arthritis which limits motion, and causes pain. While fusion decreases the motion, it may increase FUNCTION and FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY since there is less pain. Hope this helps. Best of luck with your surgery and a speedy recovery! Dr. Hey. We will try to get some more videos soon to address this question of flexibility. Over last couple of weeks I had one of my former AIS surgical patients shadowing me for a couple of days who is premed. She is an adolescent Indian dancer patient who had AIS surgery who has no trouble with mobility for her dancing internationally!! Will seek to get hers and other patient stories up there soon.
