A small curve in her back turned into a serious spine disorder: How a 12-year-old girl beat congenital scoliosis with a complex surgery

A small visible deformity on the back of a young school girl, started to progress into a major curvature of the spine, which began to affect her physical health and emotional well-being. Initially this was attributed to a minor problem but with time it became more obvious and began to cause intermittent back pain and affect the child’s self confidence.

A complex corrective spine surgery helped a young student from Bengaluru recover from congenital scoliosis, correcting the deformity completely and allowing her to return to normal life with improved confidence and comfort.

The parents of the child first noticed the deformity about 1.5 years ago, which they assumed to be a minor irregularity in the spine. However, as time passed, the deformity started to become prominent. The child also started to complain about the sudden pain in the mid-back, especially while she was playing. She soon started to become conscious about her appearance.

“The deformity was not only causing physical discomfort but was also affecting the child emotionally. She had started losing confidence because the visible spinal curve was becoming a defining part of how she saw herself,” said Dr Navneeth Kumar GK, Consultant, Spine Surgery, Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road.

Diagnosis of a Rare Congenital Condition

Detailed radiological investigations, including MRI and CT scans, revealed congenital scoliosis caused by hemivertebrae at the D12 and L2 levels.

The spine is made up of vertebrae that function like building blocks stacked together to form the spinal column. In this case, two of these vertebrae were only partially formed, only one half had developed, while the other half was absent. This condition, known as hemivertebra, caused the spine to grow in a crooked manner, resulting in significant curvature in both the coronal and sagittal planes.

Since the child was entering the pubertal growth spurt phase, doctors advised immediate intervention to prevent the deformity from becoming much more severe over the next few years.

Precision Surgery with Advanced Safety Monitoring

The surgical team led by Dr Navneeth Kumar GK planned excision of the malformed hemivertebrae at the D12 and L2 levels to correct the spinal alignment.

The surgery was performed with the aid of an operating microscope and a specialised high precision instrument called the Midas Rex drill. The abnormal portions of the vertebrae were removed slowly and carefully, restoring normal balance to the spine.

One of the most important aspects of the procedure was the use of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM), a real-time safety tool used to continuously monitor spinal cord function during surgery.

“When correcting complex spinal deformities, there is always a risk of stretching or damaging the spinal cord, which can lead to paralysis. IONM allows us to monitor the spinal cord continuously during surgery and immediately detect if there is any risk, giving us the opportunity to reverse the step and prevent permanent damage,” explained Dr Navneeth Kumar GK.

The surgery lasted approximately four and a half hours, and throughout the procedure there were no drops in spinal cord signals, confirming neurological safety.

Complete Correction and Quick Recovery

The surgery achieved complete correction of the deformity in both planes. The prominent hump on the child’s back, which was especially visible while bending forward, disappeared completely after surgery.

The child required some blood transfusion support post-operatively but recovered well. She tolerated pain effectively, cooperated with physiotherapy, and was discharged on the third day after surgery.

At follow-up, doctors confirmed that she was doing well at home, with the deformity fully corrected and no neurological complications.

“She is academically bright and was at an important stage of growth. Correcting the deformity at the right time has not only improved her physical health but also protected her future confidence and quality of life,” added Dr Navneeth Kumar GK.

Importance of Early Screening in Children

Dr Navneeth Kumar G.K emphasised that congenital scoliosis is present from birth and can often be detected much earlier through routine school health screening programs.

Health camps conducted in schools that include spinal deformity screening can help identify such conditions before they progress. Early diagnosis allows for better planning, easier correction, and significantly improved outcomes.

“Congenital scoliosis can be picked up much earlier through simple school screening programs. There is no reason to detect it only at 12 years of age. Early intervention can make treatment safer and outcomes much better,” said Dr Navneeth Kumar GK.