Astrid’s successful scoliosis surgery
Watching 10-year-old Astrid Luck at Busch Gardens and catching waves at the beach this summer, you’d never guess she had been in the hospital for spine surgery just a couple months earlier.
Astrid was diagnosed with scoliosis as a preschooler, but when she began complaining recently about her sore and tired back her pediatrician referred her to CHoR. Specifically, she came to see Dr. Chester Sharps, an orthopeadic surgeon with decades of experience caring for kids with scoliosis. Though Dr. Sharps has performed thousands of scoliosis surgeries, he was able to offer Astrid something new.
Shortly before seeing Astrid for her initial evaluation, Dr. Sharps had done the first vertebral body tethering procedure in the state of Virginia. The surgery corrects spinal curvature in kids while preserving flexibility.
“Vertebral body tethering is a modern alternative to traditional spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis,” explained Dr. Sharps. “It represents a paradigm shift in scoliosis care. Unlike fusion, which immobilizes vertebrae, VBT maintains spinal motion and growth potential, making it ideal for children with remaining skeletal development.”
Idiopathic scoliosis refers to a side-to-side curvature of the spine without a known condition or injury that caused it.
FDA-approved advancement in scoliosis care
VBT uses FDA-approved technology that guides spinal growth through controlled tension. A flexible polymer cord – the tether – is attached to titanium anchors along the outer edge of the spine’s curve. The surgeon adjusts the tension to correct the curve while allowing continued growth. Tension in the tether guides the spine into straighter alignment as the child grows over time. This was important to Astrid’s parents.
“Astrid is still very young and I wanted to give her spine the chance to fully develop,” said her mom, Bre. “We tried bracing, but she could not tolerate it. I also did not want to make her spine inflexible, as I've read this can lead to other musculoskeletal issues later in life.”
Another upside is that VBT is a thoracoscopic technique, meaning it’s minimally invasive. The surgeon creates five small incisions to access the spine and place the screws/anchors and tether guided by a fiber-optic video camera. This means reduced recovery time and scarring compared to traditional approaches to surgery that require full exposure of the spine.
Astrid was in the hospital for 2 ½ days, including her time preparing for and undergoing surgery.
“Once we were home, she was in very little pain, only needing Tylenol a few times the first 2-3 days,” said Bre.
When VBT is, and isn’t, the right choice for kids
VBT is an excellent option for many, but not all, kids with scoliosis. When considering his approach to care, Dr. Sharps considers many factors.
“I spend time getting to know my patients and what is important to them. If they’re athletes, for example, they may need specific mobility to bend, twist or jump,” said Dr. Sharps.
There are times when VBT isn’t the ideal choice, such as when the curve is too severe, or the scoliosis is related to a disease or genetic condition. The tether is also used in selected older children, especially in the lumbar spine, to preserve motion.
“I review the appropriate options with each child and their caregivers to ensure we choose the path that best suits their needs, lifestyle and comfort level,” he added.
Astrid is a fun-loving, active kid and is 100% back to her normal activities. She had her VBT surgery on April 23, 2025, was riding a horse at her first-ever sleep away camp in July and has since started fifth grade.
“It has allowed her to grow more naturally, with minimal pain and no restrictions after,” Bre said of her daughter’s surgery. “Basically, she can just continue to be a kid.”