Operative treatment of adult scoliosis with posterior fusion and instrumentation.

Adults with idiopathic or senescent scoliosis are a surgical challenge. Complaints of pain should be investigated to ascertain the exact cause in order for appropriate surgery to be performed. Complications associated with surgery in the adult are higher than with the adolescent, but can be minimized by a careful preoperative evaluation and meticulous surgical technique. Segmental spinal fixation using distraction and compression rods, sublaminar wires, and CD instrumentation are currently in use.