But the BritishOrthopaedicAssociation (BOA) says this could delay operations.
BBC: NEWS | Health | Warning over surgery kit cleaning
2.
Peter Kay, president of the BritishOrthopaedicAssociation and a former adviser to the Department of Health, said the sheer numbers waiting longer than 18 weeks meant it was unlikely to be solely for personal or medical reasons.
BBC: Long hospital waits 'on the increase'
3.
Mr Philip Sell, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham and secretary of the BritishAssociation of Spine Surgeons, said operations are carried out to prevent the curvature from becoming worse.