Displaying items by tag: juvenile scoliosis

A wise man once said, "when in doubt, do something, because doing something isn't doing nothing, which isn't doing something......it's just doing nothing."

 

Quote from the NSF website.

 

"The data collected by orthopedists shows that without any form of treatment, 4 out of 5 minor curvatures will not progress beyond 20 degrees. For this reason, orthopedists no longer treat such minor curvatures but they do recommend periodic observation, especially in growing children."

 

Kind of sucks to be part of that 20% of patients whom the orthos are willing to throw under the bus huh? Anyway, the advent of genetic testing indicates that 25% (not 20%) of patient's diagnosed with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) are pre-disposed to developing a severe curvature (>40*).....Which isn't to say that the other 75* of geneticly low risk patients can't or won't still experience significant curve progression that often leads to moderate to severe impact on their quality of life in adulthood.

 

Adult Scoliosis: A health assessment analysis by SF-36
SPINE 2003; 28(6): 602-606

 

"adult scoliosis patients with spinal curves 10 degree or greater scored significantly lower in 7 out of 8 categories including physical functioning, general health, social functioning, and body pain when compared to the general population. In fact the researchers concluded "It is our conclusion that adult scoliosis is becoming a medical condition of significant impact, affecting the fastest growing segment of our society to a previously unrecognized degree."

 

38,000 spinal fusion surgeries (many of which with terrible long-term outcomes) are being performed and 30,000 children are being needlessly stuffed into braces (which often cause life long self esteem, depression, and other psychological disorders in addition to being generally ineffective) each year, because the conventional wisdom of yesterday has decided to take a 're-active' approach to treating rapidly progressing curvatures, rather than a 'pro-active' approach to stabilizing and reducing them BEFORE they become increasing, progressive curvatures.

 

Don't let a lifetime be defined by scoliosis. Be pro-active, be assertive, be informed, and when in doubt do something!!!

Please click here to receive a FREE SCOLIOSIS TREATMENT INFORMATION KIT ASAP.

 

 

Thirty-nine consecutive patients have had vertebral body stapling of 52 curves (26 patients with one curve stapled and 13 with two). For the group with patients who were 8 years or older with less than 50 degrees preoperative curve and a minimum 1-year followup, coronal curve stability was 87% when defined by progression less than or equal to 10 degrees . Fusion was necessary in two patients. No curves less than 30 degrees at the time of stapling progressed greater than or equal to 10 degrees . Major complications occurred in one patient (2.6%, diaphragmatic hernia) and minor complications occurred in five patients (13%). Further followup of the patient cohort and further research into efficacy and indications are warranted.

 

Originally published by:

Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2005 May;(434):55-60.

Betz RR, D'Andrea LP, Mulcahey MJ, Chafetz RS.

Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia, PA, USA. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it