Includes References and Index

This is the first edition of Adult Lumbar Scoliosis: A Clinical Guide to
Diagnosis and Management. The goal is to provide the spinal surgeon and
practitioner with the most current concepts in the treatment of this complex
problem. With our aging population, spinal pathology is ever increasing. The
cascade of spinal degeneration leading to adult lumbar scoliosis is disabling,
and the impact on a patient’s quality of life is significant. Additionally, the
adult patient is different today than they were even a decade ago as they are
more active and demand more from their body.
Surgical intervention for every patient is clearly not possible, nor is it
responsible. Health-care providers must be aware of the medical economics
and outcomes of spinal treatments in order to choose the best patients and
best procedures. Individualized health care and delivery are on the horizon,
and we all play a role in its management. This book will allow practitioners
to determine both care and the surgical or nonsurgical goals for each patient.
For this book, we gathered leaders from around the country to discuss their
specific area of expertise. In each chapter, their passion for best practices and
their dedication to their craft are evident. The topics range from the nonoperative care to the economics of spinal deformity and future directions.
Each of these authors used their clinical acumen, as well as the body of literature and personal research, to provide us with the most current concepts. I am
inspired by their work and appreciative of their commitment.
Over the past few decades, we have seen the acceptance of radiographic
parameters and in particular spinopelvic parameters to determine the goals of
spinal reconstruction for best outcomes. We now face the challenge to merge
patient expectations with individualized alignment goals while minimizing
complications. We are all deformity surgeons, who are either correcting
deformity or creating it; the key is to know the difference.
I hope that you enjoy the book. It is an exciting time to be a spinal
surgeon.