Is surgery the most effective way to treat scoliosis?

When needed 1%: Surgery is indicated in 1% of idiopathic scoliosis which is the most common type and is very effective for treatment. For most, no treatment is needed and occasionally, bracing may be indicated when you are a skeletally immature patient with growth potential and the size of the curve is large enough or if there has been curve progression to warrant brace use until growing stops.

It depends: It depends. Small curvatures do not need surgery, or even any treatment at all. Curvatures over 45-50 degrees will usually tend to relentlessly progress, potentially leading to even heart and lung problems. Surgery is the only way to really change this natural history in traditional medicine. Thank you for the question.