Who is a good candidate for this surgery, and who should avoid it?

Good candidates include adolescents or adults with a scoliosis curve exceeding 40–50 degrees that is progressive or causing pain, breathing difficulty, or functional limitations. Contraindications include active infection, severe osteoporosis, or medical conditions that significantly increase surgical risk, such as uncontrolled heart disease. A thorough evaluation by an orthopedic spine surgeon is required.