Adult spinal deformity (ASD), a deviation in the alignment of the spinal column, can significantly affect an individual’s quality of life. According to the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), patients seeking medical intervention typically fall into one of five categories of deformities: (1) a curvature of the spine from childhood or adolescence that has become more symptomatic in adulthood, (2) an injury-related deformity, (3) a collapsed vertebra caused by osteoporosis, (4) a focal problem that led to degenerative changes to the spine, or (5) a need for revision surgery owing to wear and tear or to the position of a previous fusion.

Medscape recently interviewed Frank J. Schwab, MD, the new Chief of Spine Service at HSS, who developed a descriptive classification for ASD and a software program (Surgimap) to assist surgeons in studying spinal deformities and surgical planning.