Surgery is the Answer for Some Scoliosis Sufferers
Danielle was just a 6th
grader when doctors first diagnosed curvature of the spine. Years of wearing a back brace just didn't pay off, so Danielle decided to have surgery to straighten her spine.
Spine surgeons at Alegent Health use a computer called "stealth" during the surgery. The monitor is positioned in front of surgeons to guide their moves during the 8-hour prcess. 3-D mapping done before surgery helps surgeons place the mental screws in exactly the right spot.
"The implants, or screws, have an excellent fit, and the risk of neurologic injury is lower" says John W. McClellan III, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon at the Alegent Health Orthoapedic Institute.
Surgery done in conjunction with the Stealth computer is safer because the screws are kept away from the spinal cord and the screws that will anchor the metal rod help hold the spine in place.
To determine if your child has scoliosis, have her bend forward with her hands together as if he were about to ive into a pool, and check to see if one side of the rib cage is higher than the other.
Other telltale signs include a curvature of the spine, an elevated shoulder or a protruding shoulder blade, says Dr. McClellan.
The good news about scoliosis is that it's very rare and often needs little management. Only five in 1,000 kids have a spinal deformity and of those, only one in a 1000 needs a brace. One in 4,000 with a spinal deformity requires surgery.
However, the earlier doctors diagnose spinal probems, the better the treatment options.
