Nov 3 2008 Hey Clinic Surgery: 59 yo nurse manager with severe collapsing double curve

Yesterday, Monday November 3rd we helped a 59 yo woman, who works as a nurse manager for a hospital a few hours away who has a several hear history of severe progressive back pain.  She was only recently diagnosed with a severe scoliosis.  She likely had a smaller idiopathic scoliosis, but in her past 10 years or so, severe degenerative changes began to set in, causing disc and facet joint breakdown, and subsequent curve collapse with pain.  This is a good example of degenerative scoliosis on top of idiopathic scoliosis, becoming symptomatic later in life.

Her surgery went very well today.
Fusion levels:  T3-S1-Iliac Wing, with L5S1 L TLIF spacer w/ PEEK, and 2 lumbar osteotomies.
Surgical Time:  5 hrs 30 minutes.
Extubated in operating room, without difficulty.
Surgical correction:  Excellent. Approximately 80%.  Well balanced.  Excellent lumbar lordosis.  Humps gone.
Estimated Blood Loss:  1500 cc
Cell Saver Returned to Patient:  650 cc
Blood Transfused:  None.  Postop Hemoglobin 11.3
Evoked Sensory and Motor Function:  Normal.
Postop Check:  In good shape.  Family Very Thankful.  Local referring orthopaedic surgeon called me after surgery to get an update, and was also thankful.

Last week we “straightened up” a medical assistant for a surgery clinic who had a nearly 90 degree kyphosis.  The week before that we did a large scoliosis in a nurse from local hospital.  Tomorrow afternoon I am doing a thoracolumbar fusion on a retired nurse.  Lots of healthcare providers in need of straightening!


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Lloyd A. Hey, MD MS
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
Raleigh NC USA
http://www.heyclinic.com
Member, Scoliosis Research Society, SRS
http://www.srs.org