Adult spinal deformity — including scoliosis, kyphosis, and flatback syndrome — can cause progressively worsening back pain, leg pain, and difficulty standing upright. Surgical correction realigns the spine, restores sagittal balance, and often dramatically improves the ability to walk, stand, and perform daily activities.
What Is Adult Deformity?
Spinal deformity in adults may develop as a progression of adolescent scoliosis that was never treated, or de novo — arising from the degenerative cascade of disc collapse, facet arthritis, and vertebral compression that occurs with aging. Unlike childhood scoliosis, adult deformity is frequently accompanied by significant pain and neurological symptoms in addition to the cosmetic spinal curve.
Surgical correction involves a combination of approaches tailored to the patient's specific deformity. Posterior fusion with pedicle screws and rods is the backbone of most deformity corrections, with osteotomies (controlled bone cuts) used to achieve larger corrections when the deformity is rigid. Lateral interbody fusion (XLIF/LLIF) is often incorporated to restore disc height and correct coronal and sagittal alignment at multiple levels before posterior instrumentation.
The goals of adult deformity surgery are to stop curve progression, restore global spinal alignment (particularly the sagittal balance that determines standing posture), decompress neural elements causing leg pain or weakness, and provide lasting stability. Dr. Chavarria's fellowship training in complex spinal deformity equips him to plan and execute multi-level corrections with attention to both the correction achieved and the long-term maintenance of that correction.
Are You a Candidate?
- Patients with progressive adult scoliosis causing disabling back pain or neurological symptoms
- Patients with sagittal imbalance (flatback syndrome or kyphosis) causing forward lean, difficulty standing upright, or back fatigue
- Patients with degenerative scoliosis and associated spinal stenosis causing leg pain or weakness
- Patients who have failed extensive conservative treatment and whose quality of life is significantly limited
- Patients who have been evaluated and optimized medically, understanding the realistic expectations and recovery timeline for complex correction
What to Expect
Pre-operative: Comprehensive imaging including full-length standing X-rays (EOS or scoliosis series), MRI, and CT. Surgical planning uses precise measurement of spinal parameters to design the correction. Pre-operative optimization (bone density, nutrition, smoking cessation) is an important component.
Day of surgery: Adult deformity corrections are major surgeries typically lasting 4–8 or more hours depending on the number of levels and complexity of osteotomies. A 2–5 day hospital stay is typical. You will work with physical and occupational therapy during your inpatient stay.
First 4–8 weeks: Activity is restricted. You will be walking with assistance from day one but will avoid bending, lifting, and twisting for 3 months. Pain is carefully managed. Serial outpatient appointments track neurological recovery and wound healing.
3–12 months: Recovery from major deformity correction is gradual. Most patients see continued improvement over 6–12 months as the fusion matures and neural recovery occurs. Physical therapy begins at 6–8 weeks and continues for several months. Most patients report significant improvement in quality of life, posture, and walking endurance.
Why Choose Dr. Chavarria for Your Adult Deformity in Reno?
- Stops curve progression and prevents further neurological deterioration
- Restores standing posture and sagittal balance
- Decompresses compressed nerves — improves walking and leg symptoms
- Durable long-term result when properly planned and executed
- Fellowship-trained expertise in complex multi-level corrections
- Dramatically improves quality of life, independence, and daily function for carefully selected patients