Thursday, February 14, 2008

Kyphosis older and younger!

This past week I saw 2 of my severe kyphosis repair patients back for follow-up.
The younger one is 9, named Zachary, who had a 90+ degree kyphosis secondary to multiple thoracic fractures, and severe cerebral palsy secondary to shaken baby syndrome.  He now is able to sit upright in his wheelchair, and actually function in a comfortable position.  Preoperatively, he needed someone to hold his head up, and would drool all the time on his clothes.  Now he sits upright, and can interact with his teachers and caregivers.

The older gentleman, was affectionately known as “Pretzel Man” -- had a failed surgery elsewhere, and fell into such a severe kyphosis that he actually walked around on his hands and knees in severe pain.  He is 72 years old, and otherwise healthy, but his life was incredibly limited.  Now he stands up very straight, and has his life back

We care for the full age range of patients with scoliosis and kyphosis and many other less serious spinal conditions like disc herniations and spondylolisthesis.  We have treated one year-old toddlers up through 96 year-old ladies with spinal deformity.


Lloyd A. Hey, MD MS
http://www.heyclinic.com
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
Raleigh, NC  USA

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