stapling question for those that have had

[rustynm]

Hi all,

I have a 8yo whose been diagnosed w/scoli for two yrs now, was 29deg thor initially.

We had thought about stapling and had consultation 2 yrs ago, and are still considering.

I am wondering about anyone's personal experience, and specifically, any long term restrction on activities, ie anyhting which you or your child have not been able to do, excluding the recorvery time??

Anyone whose had staples still participate in gymnastics?.

Any response is appreciated.

Thank you, R

[mariaf]

Hi,

I will answer your questions but first let me say that there is a support site comprised solely of parents whose kids either had the stapling or are considering it - here's the link:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/staplingsupport/

It's a great place to get information - there are dozens of parents who can share their own personal experiences plus there is a database where you can see the status of the curves, etc.

Once the initial healing process is over (a couple of months in most cases), there are ABSOLUTELY NO restrictions on activities. My son plays baseball, basketball and does anything he wants to do. He was allowed to ride EVERYTHING when we went to Disney.

That's actually one of the big "pluses" that they can do anything. And YES, I know several girls who returned to gymnastics within a few months.

I assume you went for your consult at Shriners in Philadelphia? As you can see by my signature, that's where my son (as well as most of the kids on the stapling site) had their surgery.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the stapling support site as well as on NSF.

Best regards,

[amandap]

Hi R,

My daughter also had the stapling surgery @ Shriners in Philly in June 2006. Like Maria said one of the advantages of stapling is that they maintain full flexibility of their spine with no restrictions (at least not that I've heard of thus far).

I personally know several girls who have had the stapling done who have since their recover have returned to competitive gymnastics.

Maria has already given you the info on the VBS support site ~ there are many people there with stapling experiences.

Talk to you soon ~ A

[rustynm]

Thanks for the info

I will try the other site again - I had earlier, but my network is giving prob.s and my internet is slower than dial up. I could not get the other site to work

[2kids]

VBS Questions

I am still trying to understand the stapling treatment. This is something done for younger children to avoid several years in a brace, right? Is it less invasive/traumatic than the other corrective surgery people get when older (i.e. finished growing)? Do the staples stay in forever? Of those who have had it, has it held the progression off?

Thanks!

[amandap]

Yes, vertebral stapling is being used as an alternative to bracing (it's an internal brace). This is geared toward younger children with idiopathic scoliosis with a lot of growth left who have very flexible spines. Children like my daughter who faced 8-10 yrs of bracing just to "maintain" her curve until she was old enough to be fused. At the rate her scoliosis was progressing we were told by several different orthos that they were 99.9% certain she would need fusion.

The staples offer some correction immediately then there is a possibility that as the child grows more correction will be achieved.

The added benefit is that once this procedure is done there should be no need for brace wearing and the child's spine remains completely flexible and they have no physical restrictions.

The stapling procedure is considered orthoscopic and minimally invasive but please don't let that fool you into thinking it's not a big surgery because it is. The lungs have to be deflated to insert the staples and there is generally 3-4 1"-2" incisions on the side of the spine that is being worked on and a chest tube is inserted for 24-48 hours to help with any drainage. In my daughter's case she had both sides stapled so 2 of everything.

The surgery offers no guarantees but in our case Lorena is doing well ~ she had a pre-op curve of 42* and is now 1 1/2 yrs post op and is holding at 23* and she's had about 4 inches of growth since her surgery in June of last yr. We only pray that all continues to hold.

Hope this helps.

Amanda

[amandap]

Sorry I forgot to add ~ that unless the child has problems/issues the staples do stay in forever.

To date there has only been 1 child that has had her staples removed because she overcorrected.

Amanda

[mariaf]

Dear Rustynm and 2 kids,

If the link to the stapling support site doesn't work for you, please e-mail Amanda or I and we will try to get you all set up (well, actually e-mail Amanda because she's MUCH better with that kind of stuff!)

Amanda - I know you won't mind

[amandap]

NOPE ~ don't mind at all. It would be my pleasure!

domingo_amandapompa@msn.com

~A