Will I still reach a normal height if I have a spinal fusion surgery? How much would the fused portion of my spine have grown had it been left unfused?
Whether or not an individual will reach a normal height following a spinal fusion surgery depends on how old the child is at the time of the surgery. Because spinal fusion surgeries stop the growth of the fused spine bones, performing a spinal fusion on a very young individual will stop the growth of that portion of their spine, and, in many cases, also stop the growth of the chest and lungs as well. Other treatment options, such as VEPTR and vertebral stapling, are used instead of spinal fusion surgeries when individuals are too young to undergo a spinal fusion surgery. Although spinal fusion surgeries stop the growth of the fused spine bones, most individuals notice that they are 1 to 2 inches taller after their spinal fusion surgery. This occurs because surgery because of the amount of straightening of their curve that was achieved during their spinal fusion. It is important to note that undergoing a spinal fusion surgery will not affect the increase in height you will obtain from t
