Khoula Hospital establishes surgical programme for scoliosis

MUSCAT: Khoula Hospital has successfully established a comprehensive surgical programme for treating spinal deformities (scoliosis), with the first surgeries performed in 2012. The programme has seen significant progress in recent years, thanks to national efforts to localise these complex procedures.
Dr Sultan bin Saif al Kalbani, Head of the Spine Unit at Khoula Hospital and Consultant in Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery, said that the programme achieved a qualitative leap with the introduction of early scoliosis treatment last year. This advancement, he affirmed, has enabled therapeutic intervention for children at younger ages, resulting in over 50 successful cases.
He noted that such surgeries were previously performed outside Oman, imposing financial and psychological burdens on patients and their families. The localisation of these services has alleviated these challenges, with national medical teams now capable of performing complex procedures without the need for patients to travel abroad.
Dr Al Kalbani added that this achievement places Khoula Hospital among the few centres in the Gulf and Middle East offering such advanced, precision surgeries using state-of-the-art techniques, including intraoperative nerve monitoring and modern spinal fixation systems.
The hospital has also introduced advanced surgical navigation systems and robotic-assisted surgery, enhancing precision, reducing complications and improving surgical outcomes. Khoula Hospital is now one of the region’s pioneering centres utilising these technologies in paediatric spine surgery.
In research and documentation, he pointed out that the hospital has completed a comprehensive unit documenting its scoliosis treatment experience over the years, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance specialisation, training and scientific documentation.
Currently, an innovative strategic research project is underway in collaboration with artificial intelligence technologies to develop early scoliosis screening methods in schools. This initiative aims to enhance early detection and reduce the need for complex surgical interventions in the future, he added.
Dr Al Kalbani emphasised that this success results from collaborative efforts among doctors, technicians and healthcare administrators. Work is ongoing to expand the programme’s scope and develop research and training initiatives to meet patient needs nationally and regionally.
He affirmed that investing in national workforce training has been — and remains — key to this success, with medical, nursing and support staff receiving continuous training through workshops in Oman and abroad to ensure service quality and patient safety.
Dr Al Kalbani noted growing public awareness about early scoliosis diagnosis and expressed pride in citizens’ confidence in government healthcare institutions, particularly Omani professionals who have demonstrated their ability to provide advanced treatment services meeting global standards.
On his turn, Dr Rashid bin Mohammed al Alawi, Director-General of Khoula Hospital, underlined the hospital’s aspiration to become a regional reference centre for spine surgery, led by Omani professionals. This vision, he said, is being realised through continuous training programmes, workshops, conferences, local and international fellowships, and advanced research in spinal disorders and surgeries published in prestigious scientific journals.
He stated that the hospital not only strives for medical excellence, but also prioritises patient-centred care. Expanding specialised services and adopting cutting-edge technologies, such as robotic-assisted surgeries, aim to alleviate patient suffering, accelerate recovery and enable them to return to a better quality of life, he added. — ONA