Before and after scoliosis surgery photo showing immediate postoperative posture improvement

On Valentine’s Day earlier this week, we shared with you the preop and postop x-rays on the 35 yo woman we treated that day for severe collapsing thoracolumbar scoliosis.  This patient had a small thoracolumbar curve during her teenage years, but noted progressive deformity during her adult years that also became increasingly painful.

She did very well after surgery, going home yesterday from the hospital.  The night of her surgery, she shared a photo that she took of her back the night before surgery, showing the large spinal deformity with big trunk shift and “hump”, with asymmetric posture including loss of normal “hour glass” coronal alignment.  I have seen many patients like this over the years.  Sometimes the curves can progress very slowly, but then when the curve and trunk shift get beyond a certain level, the curve can collapse much more quickly, causing severe pain in back and/or legs, and also a very worrisome and upsetting change in posture.  This has to do with gravity, which is able to exert more force on the spine with greater trunk shift, which causes more rapid disc and facet joint degeneration, possibly leading to increasing destabilization, progression and pain.

This young lady did very well.  Her surgery was challenging, given the curve size, trunk shift and curve stiffness.  It is easier to fix these curves when they are corrected in the younger ages when the spine is a bit more flexible.  


It’s been a great week, and it is a beautiful sunny blue sky North Carolina day here today.
Hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

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

Whale with Scoliosis!

Nurse Kelly pointed out a very interesting article today that she found on line this past weekend — a whale with scoliosis!!

This is interesting at several levels ---
First, the whale appears quite sick, which makes you wonder if he/she is symptomatic due to the scoliosis, or it may be interfering with his/her ability to swim and feed, perhaps causing pain!

Second, obviously scoliosis can occur even when you are not standing erect and having gravity working on your spine.

Enjoy this little article.
Thanks Kelly for sharing this!

Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery.


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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41540473/ns/us_news-environment/

 HONOLULU — Experts believe a sick whale spotted off Kauai this week may be suffering from scoliosis, or curvature of the spine.

It's a rare disorder but scientists say they have seen it in other marine mammals like dolphins.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's marine mammal response coordinator, David Schofield, says officials are confident the whale was either born with the condition or acquired it over the course of its life.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser newspaper reported Friday that Schofield ruled out a boat collision, saying it's not plausible an animal hit by a boat would have retained the shape of such an injury.

A flight instructor on Kauai spotted the white, emaciated whale with a severely deformed spine on Monday. He said the 50 foot whale "appeared to be bent in half."

What dis you get for Valentine's Day?

A brand new and improved posture!
She did well.
Ebl 950 cc
Blood transfused: none.
Surgical time 4 hrs 40 min.
Complications: none.
Correction: excellent.

Happy Valentine's Day scoliosis challenge for today

When dr. Gorman, the anesthesiologist saw this young lady's twisted back this morning when we turned her over for surgery, he asked "why did she wait so long to get this fixed?"

Her curve is now almost 60 degrees in the Thoracolumbar region. We will be straightening her up today, but this indeed is why we emphasize the importance of lifetime follow-up as well as proper screening for scoliosis. This would have been easier to fix with less fused segments, better correction, more lumbar discs preserved, and more years to enjoy better posture, less pain and better appearance as well as quicker recovery time and less chance for complications. Age 35, however, is still better than 45 or 55 or 65 or 75 or 85, which are all possible, but more difficult.

Sorry for the blog drought. Been super busy at work and at home.

Happy Valentines Day to all of you!

FW: One year anniversary from scoli surgery

------ Forwarded Message
From: CHARLENE
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2011 10:37:01 -0500 (EST)
To: Lloyd Hey <hey@heyclinic.com>
Subject: One year anniversary from scoli surgery

Dear Dr. Hey,

Although I use Facebook and post things that you share with patients I do not know all of the little things on how to send notes, etc.  I think I managed to tag Hey Clinic so that you could read & share if wanted.  Today being my one year anniversary date from my scoli surgery I woke up and wrote a meaningful note on my Facebook to share.  It's been a very emotional, joyful day for me and my family beginning at the dinner table last night and recapping what each of us remembered along my (our) journey before and after my scoli surgery.  A great big thanks to you who we keep in our daily prayers.  Know that you are prayed for Dr. Hey.

At a perfect time I read this in a little book given to me called bedside blessings and wanted to share with you. I am dedicating it to you on this anniversary date of my surgery February 9.

 
"When will we ever learn that there are not hopeless situations, only people who have grown hopeless about them?  What appears as an unsolvable problem to us is actually a rather exhilarating challenge. People who inspire others are those who see invisible bridges at the end of dead-end streets."

 
 
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path.  -Psalm 142:3

 
Thank you Dr. Hey. Have a blessed & wonderful year!

Charlene & family


------ End of Forwarded Message