12 yo girl with severe 68 degree complex thoracic double curve scoliosis (AIS) fixed this morning

Surgical time: 3 hours 10 minutes

EBL: 1100 cc

Complications: none.

Correction: excellent!

Great morning.

Dr. Lloyd Hey

Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery

Last minute Christmas shopping w/ Abby, my scoliosis friend at Jared's Jewelry Store!

Today's pre-Christmas event log!

0500  Got up early this morning, COFFEE, exercise, and drove to work while listening to Christmas story Luke 1+2 on iPhone.  I learn something encouraging every time I listen to portions of scripture, and the drive into work is a good time to do it, getting my heart and mind ready to serve.

0730 We had our last Hey Clinic Team Learning Meeting, including reviewing preparations of our upcoming surgery guests for next 2 weeks with our team mates from Duke Raleigh Hospital next door.  Lots of encouraging stories were shared from recent guests!

0930 Hospital rounds - saw all six of my inpatient guests over at the hospital, who are all making good progress.  Our 35 yo guest with spondylolisthesis and stenosis that we fixed yesterday with single level instrumentation and fusion with TLIF is doing great, and going home today.  She told me this surgery was "Best Christmas Present ever!"

1045 Back to Hey Clinic, and saw one new guest with Brittany, and finished up some phone calls, emails and paperwork.

1130 Good Bye Christmas hugs for all Hey Clinic staff who headed out the door!

1145 Charlene, a scoliosis guest from Florida who came up for a consult a month or so called me on my mobile phone, since the office had just called.  She made up her mind after giving it a lot of thought, and wanted to go ahead and book her scoliosis surgery for early 2010.  Charlene shared how many of her friends have been encouraging her to move forward with surgery, especially as her pain worsens.  She also shared how this Blog continues to be a help to her and her family.  Amazing.  Even though the office was closed, I was able to put her surgery on the calendar for the date she desired, and Tracy will handle this on Monday to get it all set up.

1230 Costco for last minute items including new tires for my son's car!

1345 Jared's Jewelry Store at Southpoint in Durham -- got a chance to see Abby, one of my scoliosis surgery guests.  I had called Abby ahead of time telling her i wanted to have her help me pick out gift for my wife.  Abby had anterior/posterior scoliosis extension instrumentation and fusion with me about 18 months ago. She told me today that she is still doing great, working long hours in high heels all day long, and doing lots of different sporting activities without any pain!  Her standing posture is excellent!  We are pictured here together in her store, with small gifts wrapped and ready to go!  It was cool seeing where she worked, and she took great care of me.  I even got a chance to see what a diamond looks like under the microscope, and learned a little about clarity, and cut, etc.  Looking through the microscope reminded me a little bit about work, doing surgery, since I do all surgery under binocular magnification (either Loupes or microscope).  Even after doing more than 6,000 surgeries, I actually still have a sense of wonder about the beauty of the inner workings of our body that I get to see up close and personal in surgery each day.  It is truly miraculous how the nerves, bones, joints, muscles all fit so perfectly together to form a very functional human body!  As I drove home, I reflected a bit how each person I get to meet and help is extremely precious --- more precious than any diamond of any size, clarity, or cut.  Life and relationships are extremely precious, and should be treasured and cared for with great care.

1500 Wrapped Gifts, and put a couple of my son's new tires beside the Christmas Tree, although he may not consider it a real present!

1600 Do this Blog!

1730 Christmas Eve Service, Blacknall Presbyterian Church, Durham NC!  http://www.blacknall.org

I will be rounding on our guests still recovering in hospital on Christmas and through the weekend while my 2 wonderful PA's get some well earned rest and time with family.

Next week I'll be doing a bunch of scoliosis surgery mostly on some younger guests with adolescent scoliosis, who are off from school.

I wanted to wish all of our Hey Clinic guests and friends a very blessed Christmas, and a wonderful new year!

Special Merry Christmas to my Mom and Dad up in Pennsylvania , as well to Mom and Dad "B" -- All 4 of which read this Blog regularly, and our many brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews.

Dr. Lloyd Hey

http://www.heyclinic.com

Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery

Abby w/ Dr. Hey @ Jared's.

 

Pauline from West Virginia makes it home safely after surgery last week through the big snow! FW: God Blesses us all!

------ Forwarded Message
From: PAULINE
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:31:35 -0500
To: Lloyd Hey
Subject: God Blesses us all!

Dear Dr. Hey,
 
Hope you have had a chance to get some rest...we could see you were very tired after the scoli correction on Thursday.  I almost asked you to wait until next day to do my surgery.
I told my hubby that your leg must really be feeling the stress of Thursday morning with my surgery still to go.  I am so grateful to you and always will be thankful for all that you have done for me.  Words are inadequate to express my gratitude.
 
We made it home, finally, yesterday (Saturday) in late afternoon.  This was the longest drive we have ever had from NC to WV...from  10:30 a.m. on Friday (12/18) to Saturday (12/19) afternoon about 5:00 p.m.  The interstates were clogged with semi's and stranded cars, tunnels were closed, the berms and medians were full of stranded vehicles.  We moved a distance of approximately 5 miles in 6 hours in an area just north of Wyethville, VA.  We finally could see lights (other than those of other vehicles just ahead and) to our left.  Following our noses for guidance, we found an all night Kangaroo (gasoline) station with a small convenience store open 24 hours.  There we got something to eat that was not very healthy but hot and tasted really good and was told by the employee that all hotels in the area for 20-mile radius or more was full and also the East River Tunnel that comes over into WV was closed as well.  We were stuck!  No place to rest after already being in the car for 12 hours!  The employee of the Kangaroo station told us we could spend the night on their lot, use their restrooms and stay as long as we needed.  And, we were only two people to whom she extended this welcome.  All of us were very grateful.  We filled the tank and our tummies and returned to our own personal "Hilton" better known as the Sebring with snow tracker tires (Michelin tires are the very best!) to retire for the night.  An hour or so later we needed something to help us relax so we could sleep, so I got a mocha w/o coffee or chocolate and Keith got coffee.  He said something hot would help and the coffee was hot..  Still no sleep.  After hours of this, we finally got a short nap and upon awakening found it was daylight!!!! of the next day - Saturday (12/19).  We went inside the convenience store to hear some new travelers tell of the East River Tunnel finally being open and with this bit of information, we determined that if the tunnel was open, then I-77 should be open, also.  So, we got something hot for breakfast, went to the restroom and freshened up as much as possible, and hit the road abourt 9 a.m.We left Bland, VA and headed north toward home with prayers in our pocket and expressing our thanks for a night like we had never, ever spent before in our entire lives.  We made the remainder of our journey home in eight hours which is longer than it takes for us to travel from our home in Wayne, WV to Raleigh, NC.  When folks along the way asked us about road conditions and offered their help because I was walking with great caution on slick sidewalks, wet floors, etc and I would say "no but thank you for offering." Then, of course, they would ask if I have a knee or hip problem and I told them I had just had back surgery on Thursday,
12/17, the look of disbelief on their faces was astounding.  They were so impressed.  I told them I travel many miles to see the very best doctor for my back and to have treatment in the very best hospital.  Anywhere!  I tolerated this entire experience really quite well, much better than I would have before having surgery on Thursday.  Before surgery, riding 15-20 minutes was about the limit before stopping for me to walk.  And, walking increased my pain. So, I was stuck between being uncomfortable to miserable...mostly miserable. Thank you, again, for extending yourself to give me relief.
 
I know this was a long note for you to take time to read, but this is how I feel about the hospital, you - my doctor, and God ... to whom I give all the credit.
 
I hope you take time off for real-time, much needed rest and some great family time.  Give my thanks to your family for sharing time with one of your most grateful patients.  MERRY CHRISTMAS to all the Hey family and the Hey Clinic and their families.
 
Many blessings,
 
Pauline
Wayne, WV
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



------ End of Forwarded Message

Casey's Very High Thoracic Idiopathic Scoliosis Really made her shoulders uneven. Fixed today in time for Christmas!

Casey is a lovely young lady with a very unusual adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), who had her primary curve at very top of her thoracic spine.
This was painful, and caused major rib hump and shoulder obliquity problems.
I did a correction of this complex kyphoscoliosis using new double rod technique, multiple osteotomies, and gentle correction.
The end result was excellent.
She had minimal blood loss.
Mom and Dad were blown away by how great her shoulders and spine look now!
A great morning.
I love my job!

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

34 yo man with 60 degree painful scoliosis fixed today. Cool Greek Tattoos. Love God. Love Each Other!

> Several weeks ago, I was doing research on the web to help our
> church to develop our own mission statement.
> I ran across a short simple mission statement for Summit Church
> which rang true: Love God, Love Each Other, Love the World."
> The very next day, I met David, a 34 yo gentleman with severe
> scoliosis at Hey Clinic.
> I noticed that he had Greek letters tattooed on inside portion of
> both forearms, that looked pretty cool.
> I asked them what they said, and he told me that he went to Summit
> Church, and the tattoo on one side says "Love God" and on the other
> says "Love each Other."
> Wow. Inspiring "coincidence". Now THAT'S an inspiring Mission
> Statement!
> I guess it is also good example of wearing your "Heart on Your Sleeve"
> David has a very strong faith and spends the summer inspiring kids
> at a Baptist camp down at the coast.
>
> David's scoliosis has continued to progress during adulthood and has
> become quite painful and dis-forming.
> We fixed it today with special new double rod technique and got
> excellent relief.
> You can see the 12 cork-screw like devices I use to very gently
> derotate and straighten the spine safely.
> We got an awesome correction and his rib hump was largely gone by
> end of surgery.
> Heather, a local physical therapist from Avante Physical Therapy
> here in Raleigh was observing us today.
> She asked good questions, and enjoyed watching the disappearing rib
> hump!
>
> Surgical time: 3 hours 10 minutes.
> EBL: 1000 cc
> Blood transfused: none.
> Complications: none.
> Correction: excellent.

Three Friends who helped each other find help, who then encouraged me!

> On Friday afternoon, I was "whoop tired" after a very long week and
> several late nights doing spinal reconstructive surgery.
> As I went back to my desk, I found this framed picture sitting on my
> chair, which really brightened my whole week.
> I did major scoliosis surgery on Steve, on the far right, who did
> great.
> Steve got his pediatrician friend Charles to finally get his
> spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis fixed.
> Charles then got his surgeon friend Terry to get his complex
> scoliosis fixed.
>
> The three of them then encouraged me by sending me this photo and
> encouraging note.
>
> Also, from this weekend I saw "Julie and Julia" about blogging and
> cooking. Great movie. Inspired me to pursue blog and writing more
> -- it can be a real encouragement to many.
>
> Now I am about to start scoliosis surgery on a teenager -- one of
> many we will be helping over next 3 weeks around vacation time!!
>
> Have a great day.
>
> Dr. Lloyd Hey
> Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
> http://www.heyclinic.com
>

A Very Merry Hey Clinic Holiday

Every year the Hey Clinic family gets together for a holiday event. This year we decided to go see A Christmas Carol in downtown Raleigh. To our delight one of our friends and Hey Clinic guests, “Mr. T”, was one of the performers in the play! The performance was one of the best we have seen and all of us had a fantastic time together. To make things even better, “Mr. T” had a visit scheduled in our office the next morning and all of us got to thank him for his outstanding performance. What a joy it was for us to see one of our guests bringing smiles to so many faces, including all of us at the Hey Clinic. “Mr. T”, thanks again for such a wonderful experience, you truly helped us all have some more holiday spirit!

X-rays from Our Morning Surgery

These are photos of the x-rays taken after the anterior posterior reconstruction performed this morning! What a fabulous correction!
Dr. Larry in Alaska, your mom did great!

Audrey and Ryan fly home to Maine today w Audrey enjoying new shape.

Audrey first learned about Hey Clinic through this blog a few months
ago and contacted me through our website and sent me her xrays. After
doing phone consultation, we reserved a clinic visit and surgical date
for December.

She flew in this Monday to RDU, and met me in office that day with her
awesome supportive boyfriend Ryan The next morning, I fixed her
scoliosis at Duke Raleigh Hospital, next door to Hey Clinic. Ryan then
stayed w Audrey in the private room w his own pullout bed. She got to
have a shower yesterday to get cleaned up a bit before travelling home.

This morning i took Ryan and Audrey back to RDU airport, with Audrey
walking well on her own. On way to airport, she share how her rib
cage now feels symmetric for first time! We went over follow-up plans
including arrangements to get xrays done locally and mailed to us.
Other follow-up will be done via email or phone.

Get well soon, Audrey! You look great!

14 yo young man w adolescent idiopathic scoliosis double 56 deg curves fixed today

T5-L3 instrumentation and fusion
Surgical time: 3 hr 10 min.
Complications: none
Ebl: 1000 cc
Correction: excellent.
Postop location: private ortho room w family

L45 spondylolishesis and lumbar spinal stenosis fixed this am

Surgical time; 2 hr 5 min.
Complications: none

Encouraging word from a nurse after spine surgery with us.

From: VICKI
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:38:47 -0800 (PST)
To: Lloyd Hey
Subject: surgery

Dr. Hey,
Wanted to just drop a line and thank everyone involved in my care, most
especially you. This was without exception the best hospital experience I
have ever had. Your office staff, inclusive of yourself are the best. Duke
Raleigh Hospital excellent, I mean from pre admissions, the speed and skill
level are excellent, they are extremely caring people. The day of surgery
at all levels went like a well oiled machine, with a lot of caring people at
every aspect. The OR staff, Recovery, my 2nd floor nurse, PT, OT, yourself,
always seeming to show up, just the overall experience was exceptional. As
you know I am a Nurse, and probably more expecting than most, well, it was
the Best!. Would love to work for an organization like yours. I feel
really good, much less pain, but I am careful to be to hopeful since it is
so early in the recovery.

Your are without exception the best, and I will recommend you to all I know
who need your help. Thank God Pam Waldhauser sent me to you. You were a
gift from God to me, thanks! See you soon.
Thanks so much,
Vicki

Beautiful radiant new morning

Severe cervical myelopathy with arm and leg weakness and clumsiness fixed today

C34 ACDF.
Had bridging osteophytes below that shifted load to C34 level.
Good day had by all.

Leaning tower of Pisa straightened up today

Had laminectomies years ago, now in agony w severe stenosis and
degenerate scoliosis and flat back syndrome.
Fixed today w L2-iliac instrumentation and fusion w complex 4 level
revision laminectomy.
Surgical time: 4 hr 15 min.

Nice letter we received from parents of adolescent scoliosis young lady who recently had surgery with us.

November 14, 2009

Dear Dr. Hey & Staff,
lt has been several weeks since Terri’s surgery and she is doing great, just
like you said she would! We want to thank you for this whole experience.
It‘s never easy having to put your child through any surgery, especially a
child with special needs, and a seizure disorder. We were referred to you by
my chiropractor, and we are so thankful we were. From the time we met
you, we felt so comfortable with you. In our appointment you answered all
of our questions, included Terri in the conversation, and tried to explain to
her what she was going to experience. We never felt rushed in the
appointment, and your staff was above and beyond excellent! We met
almost everyone that day in the office, and everyone was so polite, and
treated us like we were old friends they hadn’t seen in a while. In the days
after our initial meeting, my husband and I had come up with several
questions we needed answers to and you told us to call you on your cell
phone about anything. We were so shocked to have a doctor give out his
personal cell number; WOW, that never happens; a doctor gives you his
personal cell phone!!! You answered every time, or called back within the
hour. We were so impressed with you and your professionalism, as well as
your personal touch. It was like Terri was your daughter going in for the
surgery. Thank you for taking personal time away from your family one
evening to speak with us for an hour about questions and concerns. You
continued to amaze my husband and me and go above and beyond. You also
spoke to Dr. Peterson and recommended that he follow Terri in her
procedure and days in the hospital to follow. When we met Dr. Peterson
prior to the surgery, we felt so good about our decision to go with you. We
would definitely tell our friends and family about Dr. Hey and The Hey
Clinic. You have a great reputation for a reason, and it showed! We Wish
more doctors would have the professionalism and personal touch that you
take pride in. It makes the patient, and their families feel so much better
about things.

The day of the surgery, of course as parents, we were extremely nervous.
We had said many prayers, as did many other family members and friends.
We prayed that Terri’s surgery went well and of course no seizures! We
were so happy that our prayers were answered. In addition to out-prayers,
you also took the time out and prayed with us before and after the surgery.
That meant so much to us, to have you take that much interest in your
patients. We never felt like, we were just another patient or surgery you had
to accomplish. God put you in our lives for a reason, and we are eternally
grateful. We could never thank you and your staff enough for the kindness,
professionalism and personal touch! Thanks to you and your staff for what
you do. you have no idea the impact you have on your patient lives and their
families. God bless you all!

Sincerely,
The S___ Family

Wow. That's a tight spinal stenosis w disc herniation!

Fixed this morning along w degenerative scoliosis.
L2-iliac wing instrumentation fusion an revision laminectomies.
Ebl: 600 cc
Blood transfused: none.
Surgical time: 3 hrs 10 min.
Complications: none.

Email from grateful adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) mom after surgery. FW: Ann Cox/Nov. 9th surgery

From: COURTNEY
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:50:08 -0500
To: Lloyd Hey
Subject: Ann /Nov. 9th surgery

Hello, Dr. Hey!

It's Sunday so I thought I'd e-mail you, just in the event you might
check your mail,  and tell you that Annie has really turned the
corner.   She's watching a movie, has had a shower (hated every minute
of it but that's fine) and is looking much better!  She actually
laughed out loud at an old episode of Mary Tyler Moore, which made her
father's day.  Mine too.  She came home yesterday on my 47th birthday
and I've never had a better present in my life.  It was a rough first
day home but I imagine that's typical.

She still has quite a bit of abdominal distention, a lot of
discomfort, etc.,  but that seems to be getting incrementally better
too.

If I had the words to thank you, I'd say them a thousand times -- at a
minimum.

I will call your office tomorrow to schedule our follow-up appointment.

God has really blessed us with your skill and expertise -- not to
mention your perfect bedside manner and concern for our whole family.

Love from our whole family,
Courtney


------ End of Forwarded Message
Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
http://www.heyclinic.com

Reflecting on the week and Life as a Precious Gift.

Memorable moments from this week, (besides the fact that a teddy bear was named after me by Ann!)

Retired general surgeon giving me a real big “thanks” and “addaboy” this morning for being aggressive when he arrived quite sick a couple nights ago to take action to check his back for possibly infected wound hematoma and possibly infected knee. It turned out that he had bad case of pseudogout, and no evidence of infection, but he was grateful that I did something quickly to get him relief without ordering tons of tests which could have been painful and delayed his treatment and eventual recovery. I was really touched by his very sincere, and even forceful recognition of the tough decision-making I had to make, and after his 35+ years as a general surgeon, with me much to his junior, I appreciated his words of affirmation and encouragement.

We’ve been swamped with physician, dentist, nurse practitioner and nurse patients and family members this past few weeks. One evening this week, I had a total of 7 such healthcare professional patient and family members on evening rounds! I had 2 pair of physician-daughter physician combinations and a husband/wife dentist duo for starters. We could start our own clinic! It’s actually been really cool and rewarding to care for this group of people.

My PA Jenny and I were really missing Brittany this week who is at NASS. The workload in clinic, hospital and the operating room is always better spread out over 3 of us rather than 2, but we got through the week with smiles and sharing the load. They whole Hey Clinic staff also pitched in to help things run smoothly to make sure Brittany’s calls were answered, images read, and emails checked.

I also got to see the boy I fixed a few months ago from the Philippines who had the arthrogryposis and scoliosis and severe hypokyphosis or thoracic lordosis which made his chest cavity extremely thin — too thin for growing heart and lungs. He’s doing just great, and his family has decided to move to Arkansas! Best Wishes, JohnPaul!!! JohnPaul plans to be a doctor some day, and may choose to work for Hey Clinic! He’s a driven young man.

I got a lot of very positive feedback on some of my blog writings this week via Facebook and via email. That’s encouraging as well, since I never received great teaching from my public high school English teachers, and went to engineering school for college, where I wrote software and solved engineering problems, but did not grow as a writer.

But every day I feel that I do meet some wonderful people, and am blessed to be a part of the healing and life journeys for many people that makes life powerful, and leads to further learning and joy. It seems right to share some of these special experiences with others. I want to write them down so I don’t forget them, and so I can hopefully be more in tune each day to recognize the small miracles that are always going on, but we often miss.

My wife and I enjoy watching some of the reality tv shows now and then on the Learning Channel (TLC), where families with 18 or 20 kids live out their lives on TV, or “Little People” families share their experiences and challenges. One of my friends Bill Hayes produces these shows, and his company once filmed me and one of my scoliosis patients years ago at Duke for the Discovery Channel show called the “Hospital.” --- That was my big experience on TV, with surgery and clinic being filmed. My wife and I were discussing tonight why these reality shows seem to be so appealing. I think it is because people and life is incredibly interesting, especially when you get to look into a world which is challenging and so much different than your own. I know my daily life is quite a bit different than most. Intense. Rewarding. Stressful. Full of decisions, setbacks, unexpected joys, and always tons more to learn. But what really makes my daily life special is the precious people that cross my path anew, and the precious people I get to live with, love with, work with and learn with every day. Every life is precious. Infinitely precious. Every day we get to spend with other people is also extremely precious. Grab it. Experience it. It’s a gift.

Seeing JohnPaul’s family’s big smiles today in clinic, and a couple of previously severely myelopathic patients walking down the hall with a stable gait makes me just thank God for chance to be here, and to be a part of these people’s lives — trying to help ensure or restore quality of life for many years to come. It’s a gift.

In fact, most mornings before I get out of bed, I thank God for the the new day, and thank Him for another day to be alive and to serve Him and others. I know quite clearly that every day is indeed a gift, because 31 years ago I could have easily died in the street or in the hospital after being hit by a car and being severely injured. God spared my life for a reason, and at least part of that reason is to serve. We always seem to appreciate things more when they are taken away, or almost taken away.

Life and time are both precious gifts often taken for granted that we all need to enjoy and share with others.

Have a great weekend.

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

Teenage Molly from Michigan doing great still after kyphosis surgery. Email from her mom.

From: Lysanne
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:10:30 -0500
To: Lloyd Hey
Subject: Molly update

Hello Dr. Hey,

How are things in North Carolina?  Things are great here and Molly is doing fantastic.  She just finished a season on the swim team for Hackett Catholic Central High School in her freshman year.  She is amazing....after her 13 level spinal fusion.  Wearing the swimsuit bothers her not at all!  I even call her "zipperback" for the obvious reason and "Supergirl" because she's made of steel! I've even enclosed some recent pics!

Lysanne
Kalamazoo, Michigan

---------------
Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
Raleigh, NC  USA

Pat's adult scoliosis and "heart" story, sent up from southern Florida

From: Pat
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 17:46:49 -0500
To: Dr. Hey
Subject: my story - hope you get it!

November 2009

Dear Dr. Hey and staff,

It has taken me quite a while to be able to sit down and write my feelings about the miracle that has taken place in my life. The miracle, of course, is the back surgery that you were able to perform on my 56 year old back.

As long as I can remember I had always known that I had scoliosis. But I always had known it was something I should not discuss or complain about. And so I never once said one word about it to my family and if someone ever brought it up it was immediately dismissed. It was a sort of secret.

I suppose the thought of surgery was just too much to bare for my parents. Back in the days when I was diagnosed, the surgery was relatively new and I would have to be in a body caste for a year. And so, my life went on ignoring the issue. Unfortunately, it trained me well to deny and ignore many things in my life as I am now discovering. Although, I have been very happy in my adult years, marriage and a successful career, there was something always nagging at me. My confidence and self esteem were always a struggle but I managed to overcome those and other obstacles despite my inadequacies.

And then, I discovered that my faith in God was also inadequate. I began going back to my church and reading the bible. I began to feel stronger and more confident. And then one day I said to myself, “I am going to confront my fears and get to the core of my problems.”  which I knew was my back. As I was aging I was noticing my body changing, my clothes were fitting strangely and I was thinking that my ribs were closing in on my pelvis. I was beginning to get scared. I mustered up the courage and opened discussions about all of this with my husband and we began researching scoliosis and researching our options. We started with our primary doctor who referred us to a doctor at a major teaching hospital. Our visit with him was quite discouraging and we walked away realizing he did not want to do surgery on me. He suggested physical therapy. Then we went to another well known hospital and we basically got the same diagnosis. By now, we were discouraged and more frightened for my future having learned a lot more about the complications that could happen later on in life.

One day I was on the internet and I came across your website and read about your story. I realized then that God had guided me to your site and a peace had come over me. I was finally on the right track! I gathered up my MRI and x-rays and filled out the forms and before I knew it, we were talking on the phone discussing my situation. At that point I felt HOPE, something that was foreign to me. God was guiding me along and I was going for the ride. I really didn’t have much apprehension, because I knew it in my heart it was right.

Even though the surgeries were tough and the recovery tougher, I am emotionally stronger, taller and happier than ever.

How can I thank you for what you have done for, not only, me but for my whole family? Because of this surgery we have all become closer and more honest with each other. The truth does set one free. The whole dynamics of our family has changed and it is all because of your ability to help people like me.

I only hope that I was able to express my gratitude in a way that tells how I feel. I thank God every day that I had this chance to renew my life.

And so, this is my story, my testimony, my personal miracle.

God bless you,

Pat

-------------------------
Pat -
Life is definitely a journey.  
Facing and working through challenges can be the catalyst for not just physical, emotional, career, and/or relationship changes, but  transformations of heart.
Thanks for sharing your heart with us at Hey Clinic, and with our many blog readers with your permission.

You have encouraged all of us.

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

FW: THANK YOU! Encouraging email from daughter of our surgery guest from yesterday.

------ Forwarded Message
From: Michelle
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 23:15:44 -0500
To: Lloyd Hey
Subject: THANK YOU!

Dear Lloyd,

Words cannot express how grateful I am for your professional and personal care toward my dad today.  My dad is quite a character (which you will experience over the next few days) and has a heart that is tender and deeper than most men I know.  It has pained me throughout the months to see him suffer and to watch his level of activity decline so rapidly. Thank you for spending time with us in clinic last week and for working him into your schedule so quickly.

It has been a pleasure to learn more about you through your website and blog and to see how God has used your accident at 16 years old, your incredibly gifted intellect, and your heart for people to give you this wonderful  spine surgery ministry.  May God continue to bless you, your family, and your practice.

Thanks again!
Blessings,
Michelle

"Dr. T" and "Dr. Chika" head back to San Francisco, then home to Tokyo

2 or 3 weeks ago, I got an email from “Dr. T”, a physician from Tokyo, Japan that I had fixed his lumbar spine back at Duke Medical Center several years ago.  He did great for many years, playing tennis, etc, but over past few months had developed severe clumsiness in both legs, to the point where he was having trouble walking.

A couple weeks ago, after getting up extra early at 4 am, I sipped on cup of coffee, and was answering some patient emails, before going off to exercise.  While I was sitting there, up popped email from “Dr. T” -- outlining his progressive troubles.  He was surprised that I emailed him right back at 4am!  He then emailed me the MRI images that allowed me to see the problem, with two areas of tight pressure / stenosis on thoracic spinal cord above his previous lumbar fusion, which could explain his progressive myelopathy.

I offered to send him the special wrenches that he would need to have surgeons in Tokyo fix it there, or set him up to have surgery with one of my SRS colleagues in San Francisco, where his daughter Dr. “Chika” lives, but he chose “Choice C:  Come to Raleigh and have Dr. Hey Fix it.”

Our Hey Clinic team got to work right away to make necessary arrangements.
We even coordinated his return travel to San Franciso to recover at Chika’s home to coincide with the beginning of the North American Spine Society (NASS) meeting, so that my OR nurse Kelly could actually be on same airplane as Dr. T to help with transportation before we knew that Chika could get the time off from work to come out for his surgery, and travel back with him.

When I saw him in clinic last week, it was great to see him again, but his gait was quite bad with severe clumsiness.
His surgery late last week went great, and his walking is already much stronger and more stable.
Today, Chika and Dr. T gave me a couple of generous presents, and we took our picture together with my iPhone before they headed off for the airport at RDU (15-20 minutes away).

Get well soon Dr. T, and keep in touch.  Chika:  good to see you again, and stay in touch.
Kelly: thanks for being willing to accompany them on the trip out, and enjoy the NASS meeting with Brittany!

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

14 yo Ann gets her wish for a "straight as possible" spine with scoliosis surgery. Tears of concern / Tears of Joy.

First thing this morning, I met with 14 yo Ann and her parents in the preop area at Duke Raleigh Hospital.
Ann had a severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).
Ann introduced me to her new little bear, wearing a Duke Raleigh Hospital blue sweater.
She told me that she named her new bear "Lloyd", after me! How cool is that? I felt really special that she would choose to name her bear after me, even using my first name rather than the more formal bear name, "Dr. Hey". Teddy bears I think prefer to be less formal, more personal I guess.

I then asked her this morning: "How straight do you want to be?"
Her answer: "As straight as possible!"
We shook on it, and I promised to get her as straight as I could! She smiled.
After sharing a short (optional!) prayer together, I could see that her dad had a tear in his eye. I shook his hand, and let him know that I would take excellent care of his daughter. With a teenage daughter of my own, I could definitely put myself in his shoes. This is intense stuff. Really important stuff.

As I walked out of preop, and up to round on my patients upstairs, I took a moment to reflect on the way in which I get to connect with my patients and their families each day in such an intense way, discussing big surgeries, getting ready for big surgeries, and seeing love at work between parents and children, spouses, brothers and sisters, and good friends. This is an intense life, sometimes stressful life, but it is very, very real, and very powerful, and very moving. I'm so thankful to have opportunity to serve in this way, and to be involved in this web of relationships that really matter every day.

Her surgery went great, with an awesome correction, very little blood loss, and about 3 hour surgical time.
I used a couple new techniques that I have been perfecting for better screw placement and better correction using some special "pursuader" techniques with simultaneous rod insertion and derotation. These new techniques are really bringing some better corrections. Very Cool. I love to learn and innovate and improve these techniques.

After surgery, I came out to see Ann's mom and dad, and both sets of her grandparents were there as well.
I held up the X-rays shown below, with the before and after so that mom and dad could see them.
I could actually see both of their faces through the X-ray, and I could see that they both began to weep.
Weeping not for concern for their daughter going into surgery, but weeping for joy and relief.

Tears of loving concern.
Tears of joy and relief.

This evening, after my second surgery, I went up and saw Ann and her mom in her room. She's doing great, and gave me a HUGE smile, knowing that her wish had indeed come true: she was indeed "as straight as possible."

Her bear, "Lloyd", was next to her, wearing a surgical mask, and keeping a close eye on her recovery.

Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
http://www.heyclinic.com
Check out Scoliosis Research Society (SRS.org) website.

Ann gets her wish for a "straight as possible" spine with scoliosis surgery. Tears of concern / Tears of Joy.

First thing this morning, I met with 14 yo Ann and her parents in the preop area at Duke Raleigh Hospital.

Ann had a severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Ann introduced me to her new little bear, wearing a Duke Raleigh Hospital blue sweater.

She told me that she named her new bear "Lloyd", after me!  How cool is that?  I felt really special that she would choose to name her bear after me, even using my first name rather than the more formal bear name, "Dr. Hey".  Teddy bears I think prefer to be less formal, more personal I guess.

I then asked her this morning: "How straight do you want to be?"

Her answer: "As straight as possible!"

We shook on it, and I promised to get her as straight as I could!  She smiled.

After sharing a short (optional!) prayer together, I could see that her dad had a tear in his eye.  I shook his hand, and let him know that I would take excellent care of his daughter.  With a teenage daughter of my own, I could definitely put myself in his shoes.  This is intense stuff.  Really important stuff.  

As I walked out of preop, and up to round on my patients upstairs, I took a moment to reflect on the way in which I get to connect with my patients and their families each day in such an intense way, discussing big surgeries, getting ready for big surgeries, and seeing love at work between parents and children, spouses, brothers and sisters, and good friends.  This is an intense life, sometimes stressful life, but it is very, very real, and very powerful, and very moving.  I'm so thankful to have opportunity to serve in this way, and to be involved in this web of relationships that really matter every day.

Her surgery went great, with an awesome correction, very little blood loss, and about 3 hour surgical time.

I used a couple new techniques that I have been perfecting for better screw placement and better correction using some special "pursuader" techniques with simultaneous rod insertion and derotation.  These new techniques are really bringing some better corrections.  Very Cool.  I love to learn and innovate and improve these techniques.

After surgery, I came out to see Ann's mom and dad, and both sets of her grandparents were there as well.

I held up the X-rays shown below, with the before and after so that mom and dad could see them.

I could actually see both of their faces through the X-ray, and I could see that they both began to weep.

Weeping not for concern for their daughter going into surgery, but weeping for joy and relief.

Tears of loving concern.

Tears of joy and relief.

This evening, after my second surgery, I went up and saw Ann and her mom in her room.  She's doing great, and gave me a HUGE smile, knowing that her wish had indeed come true:  she was indeed "as straight as possible."

Her bear, "Lloyd", was next to her, wearing a surgical mask, and keeping a close eye on her recovery.

Dr. Lloyd Hey

Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery

http://www.heyclinic.com

Check out Scoliosis Research Society (SRS.org) website.

IMG_0022

 

Talk Given to School Nurses

Slideshow of a talk given to school nurses about spine health in children and adolescents: http://gallery.me.com/drhey#100150

IPhone X-Ray!!!

Dr. Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery

What does a iPhone look like on X-Ray?

Here it is, next to a lumbar decompression and fusion!

Severe right arm pain w radiculopathy fixed today w C56, C67 ACDF

Surgical time: 1 h 40 min.
Complic: none.

A good day in OR rm 12.

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

26 yo police officer w painful progressive idiopathic scoliosis fixed today

Surgical time: 3.5 hrs.
T5-L4 instrumentation and fusion.
Complications: none.
EBL: 1150 cc.
Bood transfused: none.
Correction excellent.

A great team and a great Friday morning here Duke Raleigh Hospital OR room 12.

Now back to clinic.
Saw Dr. R this morning in clinic before surgery, doing great as hospitalist after my revision anterior posterior  scoliosis surgery for her years ago


Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for scoliosis and Spine Surgery
http://www.heyclinic.com

Geting ready each morning. "Take My Hands" -- Newsboys

Every weekday morning I get up at 5 am and exercise, while listening to music, and reading the Psalms -- getting heart, mind and body ready to serve for another long day. . today's most encouraging song was from Newsboys -- "take my hands".

Time to do situps, stretch and get going!!

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

12 yo Caroline gets straightened up this morning while "Dukey" the bear keeps a close eye.

Diagnosis: adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, right thoracic (AIS).
T5-L1 instrumentation and fusion thoracic and lumbar pedicle screws.
Blood transfused: none.
Complications: none.
Surgical time: 2 hour 40 min.
Correction: excellent.

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

FW: pain free

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Patsy
Date: Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Subject: pain free
To: www.hey@heyclinic.com

Dr. Hey, words will never be able to express my gratitude to you for your expertise and talent in repairing my back three
weeks ago. I have been in pain since I was eighteen years old. I had already had one spinal fusion eight years ago and
was still  in constant pain and on pain medication daily. I wore a back brace for six months. The surgery you performed
fourteen days ago is nothing but a miracle. I'm pain-free for the first time in twenty some years. No back brace, walking
pain-free, enjoying life.  You truly have a God-given talent, and I thank Him every day for you and what you have done 
to improve the quality of my life. In most grateful appreciation, Patsy


----------------------------
Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
Raleigh, NC  USA
http://www.heyclinic.com

Anterior ALIF Posterior revision decompressioin and fusion for pseudarthrosis faxed today.

Anterior: 1 hour 5 min
Posterior: 4 hour 30 min.
EBL: 750 cc
Blood transfused none.
Opened L5 neural foramen as well.

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

FW: Personal thank you to Dr. Hey

From: <@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:27:20 EDT
To: Lloyd Hey <>
Subject: Personal thank you to Dr. Hey

Dear Dr. Hey.

Thank you for your incredible surgery on my back.  I can already tell what a success it will be.  The pressure on my nerves is gone and I think I am right where I should be recuperation-wise.  As we mentioned to you in the hospital we would like to offer you a free week at our house on Bald Head Island NC as a personal thank you.  If you would like to take advantage of this offer just email me and I will set it up....

PY

------------------
While we never expect it, it is such a joy to see how our guests sometimes choose to express their appreciation.

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

Is it possible to care for children after scoliosis / kyphosis surgery?

I got a chance to see Nancy with her son yesterday in clinic, now 3 months from her T5-L4 instrumentation and fusion I performed for her scoliosis.
Her posture now looks great, with elimination of the 2 “humps” she had preop, and her asymmetric “hour glass”, which is now much more symmetric.  Her X-Rays show excellent correction of deformity with hardware intact.  
She has been able to get back to life, including being able to carry and hold her 35 lb boy shown being held on her hip in this picture.
 
Depending on certain circumstances, most of our guests who have scoliosis or kyphosis surgery are able to return to caring for their smaller children relatively quickly.
We do teach how to do lifting in a proper way to minimize the load on the healing spine, and sometimes have to have more strict lifting and bending restrictions if there is poor bone quality (osteoporosis).
Fortunately, most of our younger guests who tend to have the younger children that need carrying have excellent quality bone, and typically require shorter fusions.

Good to see you Nancy, and give my best to your family!!

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

-- Nancy gave her permission yesterday for me to share this photo with all of you on the blog.

Friday Clinic with Dr. Hey today. 3 month postop visit for Rena, looking great!

We just saw Rena back for follow-up.  I fixed her scoliosis back in July this year with a T5-Iliac wing instrumentation and fusion.
She really looks great.  Her posture is excellent.  Her incision is well healed, and she is very pleased with the result.
Rena is a good example how we can often get a very nice correction even for guests in their 40’s and 50’s, depending on the underlying flexibility of their spine.
Even older people can get good corrections, but in general the spine tends to get stiffer with age, with larger curves, and decreasing bone quality (osteoporosis).  That’s why it is usually better to get scoliosis and kyphosis fixed when you are younger rather than older, which also decreases the medical / anesthesia risks.
You look great Rena!  Thanks for allowing us to share your picture with me on blog.

In addition to Rena, I saw a very nice nurse in her 30’s with a 71 degree kyphosis and progressive lower back pain this morning, who has failed conservative therapy and will be having surgery with us this winter.  The deformity also affects her self-image with her posture from front view as well as side and back view.  We talked about the possible effects of pregnancy on her back with or without surgery.  It is interesting that the back pain with kyphosis is usually below, or above the “hump” which is usually in the thoracic area --> low back pain and/or neck pain.  When you fix the thoracic area of kyphosis, it helps straighten the area above and below, which often helps relieve the pain in those areas.

Also have seen one of Dr. Coonrad’s former Harrington Rod patients who had fusion done back in mid 1970’s, who has done great.  He shared that he was in traction for 10 days before his surgery, had a full day of surgery, then was in hospital for 10 days after surgery and wore a body cast for a year after surgery.   He got into trouble with Dr. Coonrad because he cut a “V Neck” in his body cast several months after surgery!  This gentleman is still doing very well now over 30 years after his fusion done when he was 16, with no significant back pain, flat back syndrome, or leg pain.  He has a little bit of pain under his R rib cage, which is likely not spine related. He could possibly develop flat back syndrome or adjacent level failure with stenosis as he goes from 40’s into 50’s and 60’s, so we told him what signs to look for to see us back.  Otherwise, we’ll plan to see him back in 5 years.

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

Beautiful photograph from fall foliage in New Hampshire from one of our adolescent guests!

A couple days ago, I got to meet Katie and her dad from New Hampshire, who flew down to Hey Clinic for a quick second opinion on Katie’s scoliosis.
They flew into RDU airport Tuesday morning, saw me around lunchtime, and then made the 15-20 minute ride back to RDU to fly back to New Hampshire.
Katie shared that she is an avid photographer, especially of nature scenes, and she sent me this gorgeous picture of the fall foliage.
This picture brought back a lot of happy memories my wife and I have of visiting New Hampshire each fall, to see the beautiful colors, and to paddle along Squam Lake.

Take care, Katie, and thanks for sending this beautiful photograph of the colors of fall!!!

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

Pat and family from Miami FL comes back to see us 3 months after scoliosis surgery

What a pleasure it was to see Pat and her family back for follow-up yesterday morning.
Pat had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, with progression of her curves during her adult years, with increasing pain and deformity.
Her posture looks great, incision looked great, and she is doing extremely well. There were lots of smiles — a great way to start my clinic yesterday morning after doing an urgent surgery yesterday morning! She took some time and showed me her photo book that she created of her “journey” through her scoliosis surgery, before, during and after surgery. Everyone has their “story”, and it is always wonderful to hear it, and in this case “see it” through the many pictures she put together in her book.
She’s obviously used the book to tell her story, since the binding was breaking apart! Pat is planning to write up her story sometime soon, which she wants to share on the blog along with this team picture that she wanted me to share now.

I wrote up a couple earlier blogs on Pat’s surgery and recovery with links here:
http://drlloydhey.blogspot.com/2009/07/pat-from-south-florida-w-her-mom-and-dr.html
http://drlloydhey.blogspot.com/2009/08/skype-message-from-pat-from-southern.html

They made a special trip up to see us yesterday morning using “Net Jets” for her 3 month postop visit, and then flew home direct yesterday afternoon.
She also used “Net Jets” also to fly home for her surgery, which was really very nice. Virtually all of our out of state guests will fly on regular commercial flights, or in some cases drive. We try to minimize the travel for postop visits for our out of state guests also by ordering X-Rays to be completed locally, and then sent to us, and then doing postop visits over the phone, Skype, and/or email. Many families, however, work out ways to come back to visit, while tying it in with other travel to North Carolina to visit our local excellent colleges for high schoolers, visiting our beautiful beaches or mountain areas for family vacations, or visiting other relatives nearby. We can be quite flexible with dates for follow-ups to match travel plans that make more sense for each family.

Pat, thanks for making the special effort to come back and see us. It’s such a blessing to see you doing so well.

Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
http://www.heyclinic.com
Member, Scoliosis Research Society http://www.srs.org — a great source for scoliosis information.

FW: thank you

From: Craig  <>
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:04:59 -0400
To: Lloyd Hey <>
Subject: Re: thank you

Dr. Hey and Staff,
Thank you for taking such good care of my niece Brittany. My
brother Scott, couldn't say enough about how well everything went.
Our family really appreciates all the care and concern you showed for
Brittany.
Good to know their good doctors out their watching out for us.
Thank you,
Craig

No more hump on back!

This morning we fixed Brittany's scoliosis. She's 22, grew up with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and has large R thoracic curve w pain and very large R rib hump.
I fixed it today using our latest "double rod persuader technique, and the large R rib hump looks and feels like it is gone!
Here is picture of her back just as we were finishing the final subcuticular closure.
Surgical time: 3.5 hrs
Procedure: T5-L1 pedicle instrumentation and fusion.
EBL: 800.
Cell saver: 360 cc returned.
Complications: none.

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

Anterior-posterior reconstruction for severe flat back syndrome w pseudarthrosis and severe pain.

Gentleman had instrumentation and fusion for scoliosis over 8 yrs ago, and developed increasing back pain and kyphosis.
We straightened him up today w L5S1 ALIF followed by posterior reconstruction down to ilium w BMP.
Surgical time for entire procedure was 6 hour 15 min.
EBL: 1150 cc.
Complications: none.
Will go to ICU overnight extubated and standing up and walking tomorrow.

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

Nancy from Alabama heading back to RDU airport after scoliosis surgery last week.

I saw Nancy and her daughter in hospital this morning all set to go home. We showed Nancy's xrays on blog last week before and after she had her nearly 70 degree scoliosis fixed. Here she is standing up straight and tall, now almost taller than me!  She wanted me to share this picture on blog and also express her thankfulness to the Hey linic and Duke Raleigh staff who took such good care of her through the process.

Have a safe trip home Nancy and a speedy recovery!

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

Guest returns to Hey Clinic and brings a smile to our faces

Throughout the years at Hey Clinic we have received gifts of thanks from many of our guests.
Today a gentleman came into our clinic for a follow up appointment to surgery that he had with Dr. Hey at Duke. Hey Clinic’s medical assistant, Tracy, brought this gentleman into one of our exam rooms to begin his appointment. To Tracy’s surprise the gentleman looked up on the counter and pointed to a drawing of two hands in prayer that has been displayed for several years.
He said that he was the artist and had given the drawing to Dr. Hey in 2003 when he had surgery. He was surprised and happy that Dr. Hey had held on to the drawing for so long. Tracy was delighted by the news, we have three other exam rooms and he could have been placed in any of them. We knew that we were meant to be reminded that even if our guests move on with their lives they will always be cared for by our team.

Pars fracture and spondylolisthesis below previous scoliosis fusion

This 38 yo woman had scoliosis fixed, and then several years later had increasing back and leg symptoms. Xray and ct showed pars fracture and spondylolisthesis w halo effect around bottom screws at L5.

Fixed today w revision T11-iliac wing extension instrumentation w Gill procedure and BMP.
No complications.
OR time: 4 hour 5 min.

She should do quite well.

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

61 yo woman from Alabama w 62 degree thoracolumbar scoliosis fixed today

Nancy met one of my other scoliosis patients named Margorie from Alabama, who suggested coming up here as well.
She had a very severe scoliosis w severe back and R leg pain and lateral listhesis w collapse lower lumbar spine.

Surgery: T5-iliac wing instrumentation and fusion w 3 posterior Smith-Peterson osteomies as well as 2 laminectimies.

Her spine was so rotated, I actually used a new cross-table technique for the lower R screws w laminotimies --- worked great! 

Surgical time: 6 hour 31 minutes.
Complications:  none.
Correction: more than 50 percent. Well balanced w good lumbar lordosis and much better looking back -- hump nearly gone.

Postop location: PACU to ICU overnight w. extubation this afternoon.

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

Will do scoliosis surgery for cookies! Great end of the week at Hey Clinic.

Our clinic was blessed mid-day today with a special ginger bread cookie "floral display" from Terri's family -- our scoliosis surgery guest from yesterday.

Last week I spent virtually the whole week at the SRS Conference (Scoliosis Research Society) in San Antonio Texas. This week I was definitely "back in the saddle" in the operating room and clinic!

After a long and busy week, while Brittany, one of our PA's has been of town on a much deserved vacation, I must admit that my low carb diet was put on hold so I could enjoy a good cookie here in clinic at the end of the day w/ Jenny -- one of our awesome PA's.

It's been a busy, but really good week, with lots of "old friends" coming back to see us, and several new families coming in that we got to know for the first time, including Brittany from Fayetteville with the 57 degree curve and large trunk shift, our friend Joe from Myrtle Beach, and our other friend Joe C from Florida who flew up to see us. We also had our 41 yo surgery guest from Tennessee this week who had the extension fusion below her Harrington rod who is doing well, heading home to Tennessee tomorrow, and our 63 yo woman with the big scoliosis we fixed on Tuesday also doing well walking up and down the halls!

We also saw this morning our smaller 5 yo little guest with the large Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS), who has a curve we've been bracing now for a while.

We saw a bunch of our adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) postop guests today, who were looking great, and doing well in school. One is planning to be a nurse, another an elementary ed teacher. One of our AIS postop guests had a really good tan, but showed us how she protected her scar from the direct sunlight as we suggested to do for the first summer to allow the scar to heal better and be less noticeable.

Thanks to Terri and her whole family for this wonderful gift for our staff.

Get well soon Terri, and get home safely tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lloyd Hey

Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery

http://www.heyclinic.com

drheywcookies

15 yo young lady w double (adolescent idiopathic scoliosis) AIS curve ans seizure disorder straightened up today!!

Surgery: T5-L3 instrumentation and fusion
Surgical time: 3 hour 15 min.
Complications: none.
Correction: excellent. Near 100 per cent.
One of the big benefits of fixing scoliosis with curves in 40's rather than 60"'s or 70's or 80's is that we can usually get a better final correction, especially in the younger and more flexible patients.

 A very good day here in Room 12 Duke Raleigh Hospital. Good music, great team, good aura.

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

Degenerative scoliosis collapse in 41 yo woman w old Harrington rod adolescent idiopathic scoliosis fusion years ago --- fixed today.

T12-iliac wing instrum and fusion w multilevel lumbar osteotomies.
She did well, and will be going to ortho floor to be w her husband.
Up and around tomorrow.

It is a little unusual for scoliosis t collapse below fusions down to L1, but it still can happen. More modern instrumentation combined w earlier intervention can help restore better alignment of the lumbar spine w more motion segments.

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

60 yo w progressive scoliosis and spondylolysis fixed today

Back from SRS today, and helped this woman get her scoli straightened up.

Did well.
Surgical time 6 hour 10 min.
Complic. None.
EBL: 1200 cc.

Its good to be back!!

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

Wonderful dinner w Dr. Wayne Cheng, one of my previous Duke Spine Fellows

Had a really blessed evening last night  w Dr. Wayne Cheng, one of my Duke Spine Fellows. He has been on faculty at Loma Linda in California now for 8 years serving as a spine surgeon including deformity/scoliosis surgery. He also has a wonderful family.

He is here at the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) meeting in San Antonio Texas.

It was just great to catch up over a nice dinner together along the beautiful River Walk -- and Wayne treated (thanks wayne)!! 

Dr. Lloyd Hey
http://www.heyclinic.com
Hey Clinic

Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)

I just arrived for our annual SRS meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
Will be here for the next several days.
SRS has been around since 1966, and is a wonderful community of scoliosis / spinal deformity surgeons from around the world committed to improving care through research and learning together.

Several of my mentors, including Dr. John Hall, and Dr. John Emans at Voston Children's Hospital at Harvard have been instrumental leaders in SRS for many years. This conference also gives  a chance to get together with my mentors, colleagues, and my former fellows and residents from around the country.

Special "hello" to Tim, one of my scoliosis patients, who - learned yesterday is one of our most faithful Facebook friends!  Hi Tim, from San Antonio! 


Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
Raleigh, NC USA
http://www.heyclinic.com.
Check them out at SRS.org.

"Back to My Old Self" standing 3 inches taller today, taller than his wife again less than 24 hours after flat back surgery correction.

I stopped by to see Erik and his wife from Kentucky this afternoon in their private hospital room here at Duke Raleigh Hospital, where he has been since being transferred from PACU yesterday afternoon (no ICU needed).   Yesterday,  I performed the flat back syndrome anterior/posterior (A/P)  reconstruction for him, and I wanted to see how he did with his first physical therapy session this morning.  His photos of his xrays are on previous blog from yesterday.

His wife piped up first, and said “He’s 3 inches taller and standing up straight, taller than me now just like when we were married!”  In fact, he is pretty much back to his “old self” now, since I jacked open anteriorly the 2 discs that had collapsed below his long scoliosis fusion done 20 years ago, and actually was able to restore their full height!  Now he actually has fairly normal lordosis. His wife told me her version of more lordosis:  “He’s got his butt back again!”

Erik smiled.  He admitted that it felt great to be standing up straight, but he still hasn’t quite gotten used to it yet!  He was able to get up and even walk out into the hall, less than 24 hours after finishing his 6 and half hour complex anterior/posterior reconstruction.

They both seemed so relieved that a new chapter in their family’s life was beginning, with 2 big smiles that really made my day.  Many prayers answered for Eric and his family.

Get well soon, Erik.


Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
Raleigh, NC  USA  (RDU)
http://www.heyclinic.com

Find an excellent scoliosis/deformity surgeon through http://www.srs.org.