Canadian children face ‘unsafe’ delays in spinal surgeries: report

A new report from Children’s Healthcare Canada found that 40 per cent of children awaiting spinal surgeries are facing unsafe delays in an “underfunded pediatric system.”

“No Child Elects to Wait” found that overdrawn timelines add significantly to healthcare system costs and negatively impact children’s health outcomes, with a specific focus on pediatric surgeries for scoliosis.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most prevalent form of the condition, affecting about two per cent of teens. Approximately seven times more teenage girls than boys are afflicted with it, according to the report released Monday.

Extended wait times for children’s healthcare services have serious implications for children’s health and well-being and add significantly to healthcare system costs. #WeCANforKids https://t.co/J3mdc12Erq pic.twitter.com/HAh20FIgF8

— Children’s Healthcare Canada (@ChildHealthCan) September 25, 2023

Severe curvature of the spine can lead to a painful deformity. Surgery involves fusing the curved part of the spine with two titanium rods to prevent it from curving further. Delays can mean kids need more complex, riskier surgery and extended stays in hospital.

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Surgery is recommended after six months, yet many diagnosed with AIS wait up to 18 months.

Chad Leaver, Director, Health and Human Capital at The Conference Board of Canada said “While surgery volumes have improved, we won’t see a meaningful reduction in the backlog until surgeries are performed at a greater pace than before the pandemic.”

Researchers say that Canada has “historically under invested in children’s health and well-being compared to peer nations.”

The report details that the clinically recommended time for pediatric spinal surgery is six months, yet found that four in 10 surgeries are completed after the recommended clinical time frame, a delay costing the healthcare system around $44.6 million.

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Research presented here recommends an investment in Canada’s preoperative workforce pediatric expertise, increasing surgical capacity, prioritizing surgeries postponed amid COVID-19 and adopting single-entry referral processes.

Additionally recommended is a Canada-wide standardized reporting on wait times for pediatric surgery.

“No Child Elects to Wait” is part of a three-part research series through the Conference Board of Canada that is examining whether the country’s healthcare systems are well-positioned to meet the current and future health and well-being needs of Canadian children and youth.

The second looks at timely access to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) services and supports and the third centres on timely access to mental health services.

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