Wednesday, July 3, 2013

quick update.... second opinions for scoliosis bracing.

It's been quite a while since I've taken a breather to sit down and write a blog post, but things have been going well with plenty of interesting families passing through our doors at Hey Clinic, and over at Duke Raleigh Hospital and WakeMed Children's Hospital.

The past several weeks, we've been focusing mostly on adolescent and early onset scoliosis surgeries with kids being out for summer.  We've also done scoliosis surgery on a 24 yo woman school teacher who is also out for the summer, who had a painful collapsing kyphoscoliosis.  Recently it seems I've seen quite a few younger guests and their parents doing second opinions for scoliosis bracing, as well as some for surgery as well, including a few for potential revision scoliosis surgery.  As we've shared in the past, I think it is important to make sure your adolescent is not only included in the scoliosis brace decision, but actually is fully aware of the long-term, daily 18 hour a day minimum requirement, that could last for several years.  At the end of the day, the adolescent also has to realize that the brace is not a guarantee that the curve will not progress, and it will not improve with the brace.  Surgery may still be necessary down the line.  Taking time to go over the choice is a good idea!

More later,
Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
http://www.heyclinic.com

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