Dr. Sean McCance is a highly sought-after scoliosis diagnosis and treatment surgeon in practice on the Upper East Side in NYC. Dr. McCance routinely performs scoliosis surgery on patients from around the world – once conservative treatments have been proven to be unsuccessful.

Scoliosis is a serious medical condition where an individual’s spine bends (rotates or is distorted) to the side abnormally. There are various classifications of scoliosis. Congenital scoliosis is a condition that can be caused by a birth defect. Idiopathic scoliosis occurs during childhood or adolescence. Adult scoliosis can occur as the spine ages. Lastly, neuromuscular scoliosis occurs as a result of another medical condition such as cerebral palsy or physical trauma. The goals of scoliosis surgery are to prevent your scoliosis from progressing and to correct the curvature as much as can be done safely by the surgeon.

Scoliosis Surgery

In cases where the curvature is greater than 40-50 degrees, Dr. Sean McCance may recommend surgery to correct a curve or prevent scoliosis from worsening. Scoliosis surgery typically involves fusing the vertebrae of the spine together with the use of internal rods to correct the curvature.

“Five years into my L1 to S1 lumbar spine fusion for degenerative scoliosis and kyphosis, I am still doing great and am pain free without the need for medication. I was in my late 30s when I had surgery and wasn’t very optimistic about my chances of a major improvement in my symptoms. Returning to a normal life was not even on my list of possibilities, but that is exactly what happened after my surgery. You will not find a better scoliosis back surgeon, in my opinion, and I cannot recommend Dr. McCance enough. The proof is in the pudding”. ~ Vitals

Common Surgical Techniques Include:

  • Using segmental fixation, spinal realignment procedures, and selective minimally invasive techniques are employed
  • Anterior, posterior or combined approaches are used, depending upon the type of curve

When is Scoliosis Surgery Necessary for Children

  • Spine curvature exceeds 40 degrees
  • Curvature pressure despite bracing
  • Your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis and you have been told that surgery is necessary

When is Scoliosis Surgery Necessary for Adults

  • Progressively increasing pain
  • Worsening posture due to scoliosis
  • Curve progression especially curves over 40 degrees
  • Development of neurological symptoms including numbness and weakness

Doctor’s Note: Before scoliosis surgery, various tests will be performed, including a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan of your spine to rule out any possible underlying problems that may have caused your scoliosis. Additionally, the NYC scoliosis surgeon, Dr. Sean McCance will want to test the flexibility of your spine using special X-rays, which help to decide how much of the spine he will need to operate on. All patients are unique and depending on your particular case other tests may be required.

Our best in class, Upper East Side, NYC back & neck pain diagnosis & surgery practice, Spine Associates, is honored to provide you with highly personalized and comprehensive care. Our philosophy of direct management of your case by an expert spine surgeon has made us one of the most trusted and respected spine surgery practices on the Upper East Side in NYC and the world. Feel free to contact the pediatric & adult scoliosis diagnosis specialist today to discuss your unique scoliosis condition (for you or your child) and start on the road to recovery.

Dr. Sean McCance
1155 Park Avenue, Suite E
New York, NY 10128
(212) 360-6500