My second surgery today was a 12 yo girl, who had a progressive scoliosis and a large R rib hump.
She had a large compensatory lumbar curve that corrected very well with bending films.
We subsequently were able to correct her upper curve while sparing her lumbar spine for motion and activities.
Her surgery went very smoothly, and her curve was quite flexible (youth is a great thing!)
Surgical time was approximately 2 hrs 30 minutes.
She is in PACU, and will go to the orthopaedic floor to a private room to be with her parents.
Her parents will be seeing her in PACU as well shortly.
When her mom saw the postop X-Ray after surgery, she wept for joy!
What a great job.
Lloyd A. Hey, MD MS
http://www.heyclinic.com
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
Raleigh NC USA
This morning we helped John, a 20 yo tall college student who had a severe kyphoscoliosis with a 55 degree thoracolumbar curve, and severe hypokyphosis with actually thoracolumbar lordosis. This hypokyphosis causes his chest to look “sunken in”, which also causes decreased lung volumes.
His surgery today went quite well, but was more difficult due to a relatively stiff curve, and thick paraspinal muscles combined with severe hypokyphosis, which made his spine “deeper” than usual, especially in the thoracic region.
I was able to successfully correct the curve with several osteotomies combined with segmental spinal correction using the rods and screws and special instruments called “Persuaders”.
He is doing well now up on the orthopaedic floor with his parents and girlfriend who is a very driven “premed”!
Dr. Lloyd A Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
Raleigh NC USA
http://www.heyclinic.com
Member, Scoliosis Research Society (SRS.org)
