Hi everyone,
Just wanted some opinions on the following ........
Today we had our first follow up appointment with our surgeon for Elysia and her new brace. The brace seems to be working extra well and is reducing her Thoracic curve from 38 to 22 and her 23 lumbar to almost straight. Our surgeon wants to see us in October to talk about Surgery. He feels because she is 12 and only Risser 0 that her curve will definately progress and that surgery is inevitable. Since her curve is so flexible at the moment he wants us to think about surgery because he sees it as an opportunity to get a great correction rather than wait later as it progresses and she matures and the correction not so great. She has quite severe rotation in her spine already and a large rib hump.
So... 4 - 5 years of life in a brace - with fingers crossed that it doesn't worsen and then life after that with a disfigurement (alright by me, not so sure how she will feel when she's older).
Or a life time of having your back fused with metal rods and hopefully no future problems.
He doesn't want to "miss the window of opportunity". I don't want to say "yes, operate" and watch my child go through pain BUT I don't want to say "No - don't operate" and then it progresses and she has to have the operation with not such a great outcome (by that I mean straighter back, less rib hump).
I think at the moment I would feel stupid putting on this forum that my child is having surgery for a 38 degree curve.
What does everyone think and has anyone else faced this dilema?
Thanks for any advice
Del
Just wanted some opinions on the following ........
Today we had our first follow up appointment with our surgeon for Elysia and her new brace. The brace seems to be working extra well and is reducing her Thoracic curve from 38 to 22 and her 23 lumbar to almost straight. Our surgeon wants to see us in October to talk about Surgery. He feels because she is 12 and only Risser 0 that her curve will definately progress and that surgery is inevitable. Since her curve is so flexible at the moment he wants us to think about surgery because he sees it as an opportunity to get a great correction rather than wait later as it progresses and she matures and the correction not so great. She has quite severe rotation in her spine already and a large rib hump.
So... 4 - 5 years of life in a brace - with fingers crossed that it doesn't worsen and then life after that with a disfigurement (alright by me, not so sure how she will feel when she's older).
Or a life time of having your back fused with metal rods and hopefully no future problems.
He doesn't want to "miss the window of opportunity". I don't want to say "yes, operate" and watch my child go through pain BUT I don't want to say "No - don't operate" and then it progresses and she has to have the operation with not such a great outcome (by that I mean straighter back, less rib hump).
I think at the moment I would feel stupid putting on this forum that my child is having surgery for a 38 degree curve.
What does everyone think and has anyone else faced this dilema?
Thanks for any advice
Del
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