Four in 10 child patients face unsafe spinal surgery wait times in Canada: report

Four out of ten child patients in Canada are facing unsafe spinal surgery wait times, which could cost the health-care system $44.6 million, according to a new report that was published Monday.

Four out of ten child patients in Canada are facing unsafe spinal surgery wait times, according to a new report.

Published Monday, the report also estimates that delaying access to pediatric spinal surgeries costs the Canadian health-care system at least $44.6 million.

"Wait times in Canada for spinal surgery that children need far exceed the recommended safe clinical time frame in several provinces," states the report from the Conference Board of Canada, a not-for-profit think tank and research organization. "Beyond pain and emotional distress, wait times that lead to delayed surgeries result in increased costs due to disease progression, complications, more complex procedures, extended hospitalization, readmissions, and rehabilitation journeys."

The report focuses on the spinal condition scoliosis to highlight the broader issue of prolonged pediatric surgery wait times following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scoliosis is a condition where the spine is curved in a sideways "S" or "C" shaped. While most patients can be treated with braces and exercises, severe cases may lead to interventions like surgically-implanted rods or spinal fusion. The report estimates that 2,778 children are currently waiting for scoliosis surgery in Canada.

While the clinically recommended time frame for paediatric spinal surgery is six months, the report estimates that only 38 per cent of pediatric scoliosis patients are having surgeries within that period in Canada.

According to available data, the situation appears to be the most severe in Nova Scotia, where 68 per cent of pediatric patients are receiving back or spinal surgeries after the recommended six months. In the report's analysis, Nova Scotia was followed by British Columbia (45 per cent), Saskatchewan (44 per cent), New Brunswick (37 per cent), Ontario (29 per cent) and Alberta (13 per cent).