We apply the only aetiological (causal) treatment for idiopathic scoliosis.

Published by ICSEB at 20 June, 2025

Idiopathic scoliosis consists of a lateral deviation of the spine. It is usually a diagnosis handled by specialists – specifically orthopaedists and rehabilitation doctors. Neurosurgeons are involved only when the condition is more severe, and surgery is performed through arthrodesis (fusion) and spinal stabilisation.

So, what makes the Institut Chiari & Siringomielia & Escoliosis de Barcelona’s approach to this diagnosis unique?

Our team of neurosurgeons appraoches idiopathic scoliosis from an aetiological perspective and offers treatment that targets its cause. Dr Royo-Salvador – already in his publications from 1996 and 1997 – attributed the condition to the filum terminale ligament, which in these patients can transmit abnormal traction throughout the central nervous system, with different consequences depending on the case.

The mechanism described, later defined by our researchers (M. B. Royo et al., 2020) as Filum Disease and Neuro-Cranio-vertebral Syndrome, in relation to idiopathic scoliosis and kyphosis, consists of the alteration of the natural spinal curves. This occurs as part of the spine attempts to minimise the tension it is subjected to, in order to protect the spinal cord inside it.

What advantages can the application of the aetiological treatment for idiopathic scoliosis provide?

Firstly, the Filum System^® eliminates the factor at the origin of the condition – ongoing traction from the coccyx to the skull – thereby relieving the spine from this active force.

Secondly, depending on the degree of curvature reached by the scoliotic spine, the Filum System^® can stop its progression or even allow, after surgical release, a partial straightening  of the the pathological curvatures.

Moreover, even in cases with severe and irreversible scoliosis (where curvatures exceed 40 degrees and gravitational forces also come into play), our method still has excellent results in post-surgery rehabilitation. Spinal cord release improves patients’ clinical condition (in terms of symptoms and signs), and patients feel better during physiotherapy and achieve better outcomes than without the method.

For more information, please visit: https://institutchiaribcn.com/en/diseases-we-treat/scoliosis/