Risk of Blood Loss During Scoliosis Surgery

Among the many severe complications that can arise during scoliosis surgery is the risk of blood loss. Naturally, the loss of blood can pose a huge threat to your health, but substantial blood loss will lead to further and more serious complications in the body as well.  It is important, therefore, to avoid at all costs situations in which such an occurrence could manifest.

However, a lot of people with scoliosis still resort to surgery in order to treat the abnormal curvature of their spinal column. It is clearly an immediate treatment that promises instant results, and for people experiencing intense pain, that seems attractive.  However, it is a highly risky and invasive process, and it usually involves removing and fusing disks in the spinal column, which poses a great risk of blood loss.  Studies have shown that when fusion is involved, the greater the scope of the fusion, the greater the blood loss will be.

So, given the risks, surgery may not be the best treatment recommendation, especially for pediatric patients.  Intraoperative blood loss in small children can increase the chances of greater complications and because children are at such a vulnerable stage, they may also be affected psychologically. They may even be traumatized and feel self-conscious of the scar that will be evident for a long time.

Typically, scoliosis patients with neuromuscular diseases suffer greater risks of blood loss during scoliosis surgery. Likewise, patients with poor bone marrow density are at greater risk for blood loss than those with good bone marrow density.  Ultimately, however, the reason for intraoperative blood loss during scoliosis surgery will depend largely on  the type of surgical approach and the blood profile of the patient.

-Dr Sid
Esprit Wellness (Find us on Facebook)