Reviewed by the Abilitreat Care Team
Published: July 25, 2026 · Updated: July 25, 2026
Told Spinal Fusion Is Your Only Option? Fusionless Scoliosis Correction (VBT) in India
Discover motion-preserving Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT) with Dr. Sajan K. Hegde at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai — a fusionless scoliosis breakthrough for international patients turned away by strict US FDA guidelines.
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What is Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering (fusionless scoliosis correction)?
Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT) is a minimally invasive surgery that corrects scoliosis without permanently locking the spine in place. Instead of using metal rods and bone grafts to fuse the vertebrae together — the standard approach in traditional spinal fusion — surgeons attach a flexible polymer cord to the outside of the spinal curve using small bone screws.
When tensioned, the tether guides the spine into a straighter position as the patient grows, preserving the natural flexibility, bending, and twisting motions that spinal fusion removes.
Why this is cutting-edge
VBT represents a shift in spine surgery because it relies on "growth modulation" (the Hueter-Volkmann principle) rather than rigid fixation. Tethering the convex, longer side of the spinal curve slows growth on that side while allowing the concave, shorter side to grow normally — correcting the deformity dynamically over time.
This fusionless approach is still highly cutting-edge globally: it preserves the spine's natural range of motion and avoids the long-term risk of adjacent segment degeneration that affects traditional fusion patients.
Why patients travel for this
Access to VBT in the US, UK, and Gulf is bottlenecked by a lack of trained specialists and narrow eligibility criteria. The US FDA only approved VBT devices in August 2019, with the approved indication limited to skeletally immature patients with curves strictly between 40 and 65 degrees.
Parents of children who have nearly finished growing, young adults, or patients with curves outside this narrow band are routinely turned away and told spinal fusion is their only option. Families travel to India to access surgeons who safely perform VBT on "out-of-range" and skeletally mature patients, at a fraction of Western prices.
The hospital and surgeon
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, India
JCI-accredited. Dr. Hegde introduced Nonfusion Anterior Scoliosis Correction (NFASC/VBT) to the Asia-Pacific region.
Dr. Sajan K. Hegde
Chief Spine Surgeon — published peer-reviewed outcomes research on VBT, including a 2021 study in the International Journal of Spine Surgery.
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, is JCI-accredited, and Dr. Sajan K. Hegde is a pioneer who introduced Nonfusion Anterior Scoliosis Correction (NFASC/VBT) to the Asia-Pacific region.
His outcomes are well-documented: a retrospective cohort study of 75 patients (2–5 year follow-up), published in the International Journal of Spine Surgery (2021), showed thoracic curves reduced from an average of 52° to 17° (a 68–73% correction), with quality-of-life (SRS-22r) scores rising from 78 to 92.5 and zero major complications.
What does it cost?
| Region | Estimated Range (USD) |
|---|---|
| India (Apollo Chennai) | $10,000 – $13,500 |
| Gulf / Singapore | $30,000 – $50,000+ |
| United States / United Kingdom | $50,000 – $100,000+ (often out-of-pocket if insurance denies coverage for off-label use) |
Estimated ranges from medical tourism aggregators, not official hospital quotes.
What does the journey look like?
Because VBT is primarily an adolescent procedure, the journey is designed around families — a parent accompanying a minor. Pre-op takes 1–2 days: advanced imaging (awake traction X-rays, MRI) to assess curve flexibility, skeletal maturity, and surgical planning.
The procedure is completed under general anesthesia via a minimally invasive thoracoscopic approach. Hospital stay is 3–5 days, with an Enhanced Recovery Pathway allowing patients to walk by day 1 and be discharged by day 4.
Plan for 7–10 days of outpatient recovery at a local hotel for monitoring and flight clearance. Total trip length is approximately 2 to 3 weeks in Chennai.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between VBT and spinal fusion?
What is the difference between VBT and spinal fusion?
Spinal fusion uses metal rods to permanently lock the vertebrae together, stopping growth and eliminating flexibility in that area. VBT uses a flexible cord to correct the curve while preserving the spine's natural ability to bend, twist, and grow.
Can adults or skeletally mature patients get VBT surgery?
Can adults or skeletally mature patients get VBT surgery?
While US FDA guidelines currently restrict VBT to growing children with specific curve degrees, specialized international centers — like Apollo Hospitals in India — successfully perform VBT on skeletally mature adolescents and young adults using advanced disc-release techniques.
How much does VBT surgery cost in India?
How much does VBT surgery cost in India?
The estimated cost for Vertebral Body Tethering in India ranges from $10,000 to $13,500. This is significantly more affordable than in the US or UK, where the procedure can cost upwards of $50,000 to $100,000 out-of-pocket.
How long is the recovery after VBT surgery?
How long is the recovery after VBT surgery?
Recovery from VBT is typically faster than traditional spinal fusion. With Enhanced Recovery Pathways, patients are usually walking the day after surgery, discharged within 3 to 5 days, and can return to school or normal daily activities within 4 to 6 weeks.
Is Vertebral Body Tethering safe?
Is Vertebral Body Tethering safe?
VBT is a minimally invasive, FDA-approved procedure for its indicated population. Like any surgery it carries standard risks, but it avoids the long-term complications of spinal fusion, such as adjacent segment disease and permanent spinal stiffness.