Although bracing is one of the most used current treatments, poor bone density and severe spinal curves often cause implanted rods to slip, Sponseller said. When attempted in three patients, the bracing rod dislodged in two children with kyphosis. In general, children do better if spinal fusion is performed after age 5, Sponseller said. In 10 patients with an average age of 6 who underwent surgical rod placement and spinal fusion, correction diminished 31 percent over time. In addition, complications occurred in more than one-third of cases.
Surgeries can help, but they have to be done judiciously.