Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT) is a treatment for scoliosis in children who are still growing. The goal of VBT is to help children with scoliosis achieve good outcomes while keeping the spine as flexible as possible.
Children usually have spinal fusion surgery, the most common scoliosis surgery, when they are nearly finished growing. VBT, on the other hand, is for children in their early teens who still have significant growth ahead. This technique uses a flexible cord and screws to gradually correct the spine’s curvature by controlling how it grows. While about 50% of the curve is corrected with surgery, the remaining correction occurs naturally over the next few years as the child continues to grow. A medical evaluation is important to see if your child is a good fit for VBT to treat their scoliosis, as it’s best for children with smaller, more flexible curves.
Learn more about the Spine Program and the Orthopedics Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado: https://www.childrenscolorado.org/doctors-and-departments/departments/orthopedics/programs/spine-and-back/
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Website: http://www.childrenscolorado.org
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