News
Severe Scoliosis Surgery in Chicago: How One Teen Dancer Got Her Life Back
Date posted: 8/11/2026
Last updated: 8/11/2026
Key Takeaways
Scoliosis surgery is typically considered when a curve exceeds 40–50 degrees in a growing adolescent, especially if imaging shows the curve is still progressing.
The Cobb angle is the standard measurement used to diagnose and track scoliosis severity on x-ray, and it's the key number doctors use to decide between bracing and surgery.
Bracing can slow scoliosis progression in adolescents with significant growth remaining, but it doesn't guarantee the curve won't eventually require surgery.
Posterior spinal fusion uses patient-specific rods and instrumentation to correct and stabilize a spinal curve while aiming to preserve mobility and function.
AI-based surgical planning can be used to design patient-specific spinal rods tailored to an individual's anatomy and alignment goals, as with Dr. Nathan Lee's approach at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.
Recovery from scoliosis surgery typically includes a multi-day hospital stay, a ten-day follow-up, and a course of physical therapy before returning to sports or activity.
Dancers and athletes can often return to their sport within about a year of scoliosis surgery with a structured recovery plan.
Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in Chicago treats complex pediatric and adult spinal deformity, drawing patients who travel from out of state for specialized surgical care.
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Amy Ernst of Bentonville, Arkansas, was willing to travel anywhere to get the best care for her daughter after she was diagnosed with severe scoliosis of the spine.
"As a mom, you just want to feel really comfortable with a doctor who is going to operate on your child," she explains.
Amy's daughter, Ashtyn, was 14 when the family learned that the curvature of her spine would most likely progress and could affect her quality of life. Their search for the right surgeon eventually led them to a scoliosis surgeon in Chicago, Dr. Nathan Lee of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, and to a successful spinal fusion surgery that allowed Ashtyn to return to competitive dance.
What Is Scoliosis, and When Does It Require Surgery?
Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine, measured by the Cobb angle, which quantifies the degree of curvature on an X-ray. In a growing adolescent, curves greater than approximately 40 to 50 degrees are considered severe and may continue to progress even after skeletal maturity. Smaller, milder curves are often managed with observation or a back brace, while larger or progressive curves are more likely to require surgical correction.
Ashtyn's Scoliosis Journey: From a School Screening to a Progressive Curve
Ashtyn's scoliosis journey began at age 11, when a routine school screening identified asymmetry in her back. Her pediatrician ordered spinal imaging that confirmed scoliosis. Because her curve was still relatively mild and she had significant growth remaining, her doctors recommended bracing to slow or prevent further progression.
As a dedicated dancer, Ashtyn wore her brace through lessons, practices, and performances. Between the brace and her spinal curve, her flexibility was reduced, but she stayed positive and kept up with jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and ballet classes as normally as possible.
Despite treatment, her curve continued to progress. After a period away from the brace, repeat imaging showed a 56-degree curve, placing Ashtyn in the range where surgical treatment is commonly considered.
Finding the Right Scoliosis Surgeon: Why the Ernst Family Chose Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush
With a significant curve and a growing teenager, the Ernst family began searching for a spine surgeon.
"Right away, we visited a spine surgeon in nearby Little Rock," Amy says. "But after that visit, we still didn't feel completely comfortable moving forward, and we knew we wanted another opinion."
Amy consulted with friends and learned about Dr. Nathan Lee, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in Chicago who specializes in complex pediatric and adult spinal deformity. An Ernst family friend knew someone who had experienced a successful outcome after surgery at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, which prompted Amy to reach out to that doctor's office. They highly recommended Dr. Lee.
The family traveled to Chicago for an evaluation with Dr. Lee and planned a few sightseeing activities to make the trip a positive experience for Ashtyn.
"When we met Dr. Lee, we couldn't have been more impressed," Amy says. "He was kind and explained everything carefully to us. He helped us understand why her curve was continuing to progress and what surgery could accomplish. We wanted to give her the best chance of a successful return to a normal life, which would include dancing."
Meet Dr. Nathan Lee, Spine Surgeon at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush
For Dr. Lee, the decision to recommend surgery was based not simply on the appearance of Ashtyn's spine, but on her curve magnitude, documented progression, remaining growth, and long-term risk of further deformity.
"With a progressive curve of this magnitude in a young, active patient, our goal is to prevent further progression while achieving a safe, balanced correction of the spine," Dr. Lee says. "Just as importantly, we want to preserve as much function and mobility as possible so patients can return to the activities that are important to them."
Posterior Spinal Fusion Surgery: What Ashtyn's Procedure Involved
The family agreed to move forward with surgery, and Ashtyn underwent posterior spinal fusion. During the procedure, Dr. Lee corrected and stabilized the deformity using patient-specific spinal instrumentation and rods while carefully optimizing spinal alignment. Following surgery at Rush University Medical Center, Ashtyn stayed for six days so that Dr. Lee and his team could monitor her recovery.
"Scoliosis surgery is not simply about making an X-ray look straighter," Dr. Lee explains. "We want to restore overall spinal balance, optimize 3D alignment correction, protect neurologic function, and preserve as much mobility as possible. In Ashtyn's case, we used advanced AI-based surgical planning and patient-specific rods designed around her individual spinal anatomy and alignment goals to help optimize the correction. We were able to achieve an excellent result while allowing her to return to the activities she loves, including competitive dance."
Ashtyn's Scoliosis Journey: From a School Screening to a Progressive Curve
Ashtyn's scoliosis journey began at age 11, when a routine school screening identified asymmetry in her back. Her pediatrician ordered spinal imaging that confirmed scoliosis. Because her curve was still relatively mild and she had significant growth remaining, her doctors recommended bracing to slow or prevent further progression.
As a dedicated dancer, Ashtyn wore her brace through lessons, practices, and performances. Between the brace and her spinal curve, her flexibility was reduced, but she stayed positive and kept up with jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and ballet classes as normally as possible.
Despite treatment, her curve continued to progress. After a period away from the brace, repeat imaging showed a 56-degree curve, placing Ashtyn in the range where surgical treatment is commonly considered.
Recovery After Scoliosis Surgery
At Ashtyn's ten-day follow-up appointment, Dr. Lee cleared her to return home to Arkansas. Once home, she completed a course of physical therapy and gradually eased her way back into dancing. She also noticed that her shoulders, once uneven, had straightened out.
"I was so happy, and Dr. Lee just made everything so smooth," Ashtyn says. "It was a scary process, but he really made it easy."
Dr. Lee credits the outcome to the full care team. "Her recovery was truly a team effort," he says. "Jackie, our nurse, and Elise, our administrative coordinator, were instrumental in helping Ashtyn and her family navigate each step of the process. At Rush, she was also cared for by an exceptional multidisciplinary team of anesthesiologists, nurses, physical therapists, and other specialists who worked together to make her experience as safe and seamless as possible."
Back to the Stage: Ashtyn's Life After Spine Surgery
Today, not quite one year post-surgery, Ashtyn is thrilled to be fully recovered. She recently made the Bentonville High School varsity dance team as a freshman and has been working out and learning routines with the squad.
"My only regret is that I didn't get any taller," Ashtyn jokes. "I heard that sometimes happens after scoliosis surgery, but I'm happy just to be back to my normal self."
For Amy, seeing her daughter return to dancing made the trips to Chicago worthwhile.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scoliosis Surgery
Curves greater than approximately 40 to 50 degrees in a growing adolescent are generally considered severe and are more likely to require surgical correction, especially when imaging shows the curve is continuing to progress.
Posterior spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that corrects and stabilizes a spinal curve using instrumentation such as rods, which are placed to optimize spinal alignment and prevent further progression of the curve.
Yes. With a structured recovery and physical therapy plan, many patients return to activities like dance and sports. Ashtyn returned to competitive dance and made her high school varsity dance team within a year of surgery.
Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush is home to fellowship-trained spine surgeons, like Dr. Nathan Lee, who specialize in complex pediatric and adult spinal deformity and use advanced, patient-specific surgical planning to help achieve safe, balanced correction.
Schedule a Consultation with a Chicago Scoliosis Specialist
If your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis, or if a curve continues to progress despite bracing, Dr. Nathan Lee and the spine team at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush can help you understand your options and build a personalized treatment plan. Request a consultation to learn more about scoliosis evaluation and surgical treatment in Chicago.
