Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering

About 7 million people in the United States have scoliosis. If your child has signs of scoliosis (spinal curve), promptly treating their condition reduces the risk of pain and disability. With offices in Beverly Hills and the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, Robert H. Cho, MD, offers innovative anterior vertebral body tethering. Schedule an appointment with orthopedic surgeon Robert Cho, MD, by phone or request one online today to learn more about the procedure. 

What is anterior vertebral body tethering?

Anterior vertebral body tethering, with Robert H. Cho, MD, uses a flexible cord inserted into the spine to correct scoliosis over time as a teenager grows. It’s a minimally invasive and fusionless treatment option for teens. 

Dr. Cho is the only surgeon in the Los Angeles area who performs this highly specialized procedure designed to preserve movement. 

He uses The Tether®, an FDA-approved vertebral body tethering system. This revolutionary technology corrects adolescent scoliosis while preserving spinal motion. 

How does anterior vertebral body tethering work?

Anterior vertebral body tethering uses anchors and screws to correct scoliosis-related spinal issues. Dr. Cho secures a special cord to vertebral body screws, providing tension that corrects abnormal spinal curvature. 

Anterior vertebral body tethering is different from spinal fusion and other surgical scoliosis treatments because your child’s spine can still flex and bend instead of being fixed in place, and it doesn’t limit growth.

What are the signs my teen may need anterior vertebral body tethering? 

Signs and symptoms of scoliosis include:

• Difficulty standing upright
• Back pain
• Muscle weakness
• Leg pain or numbness
• Shoulder blades that stick out
• Uneven shoulders
• Uneven waist
• Leaning to one side
• Elevated hips
• Uneven hip length
• Altered skin appearance or texture on the back
• Uneven alignment of the hips and pelvis

Sometimes scoliosis isn’t obvious without a medical exam and/or X-rays.

Is anterior vertebral body tethering right for my child?

Dr. Cho completes a physical exam and X-rays or other imaging procedures to learn the most effective treatment plan. Scoliosis doesn’t always require surgery, as nonoperative treatments are also available.

What can I expect during anterior vertebral body tethering?

After your child receives anesthesia, Dr. Cho implants a tether along their spine by making tiny incisions. He uses an endoscope to place an anchor and bone screws in the spine. He secures a tether cord to the bone screws and applies tension to the cord to partially straighten the spine. 

The procedure might last 2-6 hours, depending on the severity of your child’s spinal curve. They might spend several days in the hospital after surgery. 

What happens after anterior vertebral body tethering?

After anterior vertebral body tethering, the tether cord continues to straighten your child’s spine as they grow.

Call Dr. Cho at any time with questions and follow up with home post-surgery as needed.

Schedule an evaluation with Robert H. Cho, MD, to learn if your child is a candidate for anterior vertebral body tethering by calling the office or booking online today.