vertebral body tethering

Vertebral body tethering is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat scoliosis, a condition where the spine curves abnormally. During the procedure, a flexible cord or tether is attached to the side of the spine with screws. As the patient grows, the tension in the tether gradually corrects the curvature by guiding the spine to grow straighter. This approach preserves spinal growth and flexibility, potentially reducing the need for traditional spinal fusion surgery. It is typically considered for growing children or adolescents with moderate scoliosis who are still developing.