Scoliosis: Life, Support & Friends

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Discuss Scoliosis with other patients on our scoliosis support group Orthopaedic surgeons are optimistic about recent improvements in operative treatment of very young children suffering from scoliosis severe enough to consider surgery, even for those under the age of five years. For decades, spinal fusion surgery has been the prescription for severe scoliosis. The significant drawback of early fusion is that growth of the spine stops and this, in turn, interferes with the development of the lungs and chest cavity. "Scoliosis surgeons are exploring opportunities to treat a child's chest and spine to allow continued growth," reports B. Stephens Richards, MD, moderator of a media briefing on scoliosis treatment advances on Friday, February 16 at the Academy's 74th Annual Meeting. "Although the majority of scoliosis surgical patients present in early adolescence when spinal growth is no longer an issue, there are some v...

I just had to share this fantastic new rehabilitation tool or perhaps we should say toy that has come onto the market to help all children from the ages five to eleven. What is the Power Pumper for? From watching videos and reading information about this bike/scooter it is a unique mobility device for occupational and physical therapists, educators and children with therapeutic or health-related needs. This innovative, award-winning, therapeutic mobility device has a unique pumping action which provides movement for both upper and lower extremities, and helps build trunk muscles. The Power Pumper is used in therapy and physical education activities for building endurance and muscle development. Visit PowerPumper.com for details of how children with special needs can receive a free Power Pumper. The Power Pumper provides these benefits: * Rehabilitation - Encourages normal movement in upper and lower extremities * Appeals to all children * Children feel safe because of its ...

Medical News Today Reported: Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian is one of only a few hospitals in the country to offer spinal stapling, a new treatment alternative for young people with scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine that is painful and can restrict breathing. The Center for Early Onset Scoliosis, led by Dr Michael Vitale, sees about 400 patients per year under the age of 5 with the condition. Spinal stapling is one of a number of new techniques that promise improved outcomes. Tens of thousands of children in the U.S. are diagnosed with scoliosis each year. When the curvature is moderate, spinal braces can be used to slow or decrease the chance of progression. Until now, however, there was no way to reverse progression and straighten the spine. Spinal stapling is a two-hour minimally invasive surgery that involves implanting inch-long metallic staples across the growth plates of the spine. Made of a high-tech temperature-sensitive metal alloy...

Authors: M. G. Mullender, N. A. Blom, M. De Kleuver, J. M. Fock, W. M.G.C. Hitters, A. M.C. Horemans, C. J. Kalkman, J. E.H. Pruijs, R. R. Timmer email, P. J. Titarsolej, N. C. Van Haasteren, M J. Van Tol-de Jager, A. J. Van Vught and B. J. Van Royen Background Children with neuromuscular disorders with a progressive muscle weakness such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy frequently develop a progressive scoliosis. A severe scoliosis compromises respiratory function, makes sitting more difficult, and is perceived as unaesthetic. Spinal surgery is considered the primary treatment option for correcting severe scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders. Surgery in this population requires a multidisciplinary approach, careful planning, dedicated surgical procedures, and specialized after care. Methods The guideline is based on scientific evidence and expert opinions. A multidisciplinary working group representing experts from all relevant specialties performed the resea...

Just goes to show that someone reads my posts! My eldest (23) has reminded me that she is also a member of the scoli community. She's got it as much as I have and describes the same symptoms (pain in icky chairs, goes in more on one side than the other). Well, in my case I am too fat to have much of a waist so it's harder to tell, but I know it's there! So that's two out of three kids, and I am going to have to watch the youngest like a hawk. The fact that he's a boy will, I hope, mean less chance of his developing scoli. He's autistic and it would be impossible to explain any treatment that became necessary. Still, he's lost weight and, as far as I can see, he "goes in" to the same extent on each side. I hope Simone is feeling better and that the trip was great. Best wishes to all

Lung function asymmetry in children with congenital and infantile scoliosis Clinical Study Authors: Gregory Redding, Kit Song, Steve Inscore, Eric Effmann and Robert Campbell Abstract Background context Progressive scoliosis alters lung function by reducing chest wall compliance and excursion and rotating intrathoracic contents, producing an increasingly asymmetric lung size. The effect of this distortion on regional lung perfusion and ventilation has not been described in children with congenital and infantile forms of scoliosis. The severity of scoliosis is often described by the Cobb angle of the spine, but the relationship between Cobb angle and lung function asymmetry between concave and convex lungs has not been described in this group of children. Purpose To describe the frequency of asymmetric lung perfusion and ventilation among children with congenital or infantile thoracic scoliosis before surgical treatment and the relationship between Cobb angle and asymmetry of lung funct...