ALOHA!
My 13-year old daughter has an unusual 60 degree right thoracolumbar curve. We've tried alternative methods to stop its progression
for 10 months, but realized in June that our efforts don't appear to be working. Ten degrees ago, the suggested correction was fusion between T11 & L3.
We live in Hawaii, and while there are several children's hospitals here, we don't have pediatric spine specialists per se. I just made consultation appointments in early August with Peter Newton at Rady Children's Hospital in SD and David Skaggs at Los Angeles Children's Hospital. She also had the chance to see a surgeon from UCSF, Serena Hu, who happened to be vacationing here. But when I researched Dr. Hu, I see that she specializes in adult scoliosis and is not affiliated with a children's hospital.
1. Do any of you have any experience with these doctors and/or hospitals, especially for right thoracolumbar curves? Although I know from reading these boards that Dr. Lenke appears to be the best, I am concerned about our ability to follow-up with doctors that far away from Hawaii. The west coast is our limit for both flying home post-surgery (a 6-hour flight) and being able to return.
2. Are there any other pediatric spine specialists on the west coast, especially, that you'd recommend for right thoracolumbar curves?
3. I've been pouring through Medline, researching. One article talked about elevated serum chromium levels from stainless steel implants (including nickel-free stainless) and the unknown health implications, especially for females with their reproductive lives ahead ("Chromium Ion Release From Stainless Steel Pediatric Scoliosis Instrumentation." Cundy, et all. Spine, April 20, 2010 Vol 35 (9) p. 967-74.) Do any of you know about the value of titanium or vitallium implants vs. Stainless steel? Are these even offered as options to patients?
4. Do any of you have experience with children who've had lumbar vertebrae fused? I am so concerned for my child's Quality of Life if her mobility is severely diminished. She is a competetive swimmer who dreams of singing and dancing on Broadway; will she still be able to do a flip turn? Able to dance and turn? So many success stories I've heard are from those who've had thorasic corrections. I need some help with lumbar stories.
Thank you so much for any help you can provide.
Sign me--Mary, new struggling mom
My 13-year old daughter has an unusual 60 degree right thoracolumbar curve. We've tried alternative methods to stop its progression
for 10 months, but realized in June that our efforts don't appear to be working. Ten degrees ago, the suggested correction was fusion between T11 & L3.
We live in Hawaii, and while there are several children's hospitals here, we don't have pediatric spine specialists per se. I just made consultation appointments in early August with Peter Newton at Rady Children's Hospital in SD and David Skaggs at Los Angeles Children's Hospital. She also had the chance to see a surgeon from UCSF, Serena Hu, who happened to be vacationing here. But when I researched Dr. Hu, I see that she specializes in adult scoliosis and is not affiliated with a children's hospital.
1. Do any of you have any experience with these doctors and/or hospitals, especially for right thoracolumbar curves? Although I know from reading these boards that Dr. Lenke appears to be the best, I am concerned about our ability to follow-up with doctors that far away from Hawaii. The west coast is our limit for both flying home post-surgery (a 6-hour flight) and being able to return.
2. Are there any other pediatric spine specialists on the west coast, especially, that you'd recommend for right thoracolumbar curves?
3. I've been pouring through Medline, researching. One article talked about elevated serum chromium levels from stainless steel implants (including nickel-free stainless) and the unknown health implications, especially for females with their reproductive lives ahead ("Chromium Ion Release From Stainless Steel Pediatric Scoliosis Instrumentation." Cundy, et all. Spine, April 20, 2010 Vol 35 (9) p. 967-74.) Do any of you know about the value of titanium or vitallium implants vs. Stainless steel? Are these even offered as options to patients?
4. Do any of you have experience with children who've had lumbar vertebrae fused? I am so concerned for my child's Quality of Life if her mobility is severely diminished. She is a competetive swimmer who dreams of singing and dancing on Broadway; will she still be able to do a flip turn? Able to dance and turn? So many success stories I've heard are from those who've had thorasic corrections. I need some help with lumbar stories.
Thank you so much for any help you can provide.
Sign me--Mary, new struggling mom
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