My 16 year-old grandson had heel cord lengthening surgery a couple of years ago and the scars are huge, hard and deep, almost up to his knees. His leg muscles are always tense.

Can these scars contribute to the reason for the sudden onset of his scoliosis since he's now in a growth spurt?

In other words, can the nonelastic state of the scars hold back normal tissue stretching/growth to keep up with bone growth, thereby pulling ribs and vertebrae out of alignment?

I've seen where a gall bladder scar held one person back from lifting his arm more than 90 degrees until myofascial release lengthened his muscles and allowed him normal rom immediately.

So, if a scar on the trunk can affect a limb, can scars on limbs affect the trunk?

Hi Shetawk,
The answer to this is not a simple one.
I will answer the best that I can, but would like more information regarding your grandson. Did he have heel cord surgery due to cerebral palsy?

Scoliosis is not just a musculoskeletal problem but more of a neuro muscular problem. In other words, in a patient that has scoliosis the nervous system does not always send the right signals, at the right time, to the right muscles.

It is possible for deep scars to alter the way a muscle and joint can function. That being said, when you begin to change the way the joints function you will begin to form different compensation patterns of movement. So, it is possible for the dysfunction in the legs could be a contributing factor, but not necessarily the causing factor.

Please let me know if I can be of further clarification.
Dr. Bosler