Is scoliosis surgery done with pedicle screw?

A pedicle screw is placed through a vertebral pedicle, a small bridge of bone that connects the back part of a vertebra to its body. During spinal correction, screws can act as anchor points for rods. The surgeon uses the planned positions to help align and stabilize selected parts of the spine while bone healing develops.

Not every patient receives the same number or arrangement of implants. Bone size, curve shape, rotation, spinal levels, age, and the intended correction all influence the construct. A screw is one component of an operation, not a guarantee of a particular result.

Ask which spinal levels would receive screws, what the rods and other implants are intended to do, and whether another fixation approach is being considered. Discuss the expected hospital course, activity limits, wound care, pain plan, and follow-up imaging. Tell the surgical team about medicines, allergies, and previous spine procedures.

Following surgery, report worsening wound drainage, fever, increasing pain, new numbness, weakness, or difficulty walking. Seek urgent medical attention for sudden severe weakness, major breathing difficulty, or new loss of bladder or bowel control.

Are pedicle screws suitable for my anatomy and curve? Which levels will be instrumented? How will screw position be checked, and what symptoms should prompt immediate contact after discharge?