New to forum format so not sure what section I am supposed to post this to get the most exposure/hopeful replies. Son is 16. He has CP and suddenly developed scoliosis when he was 12-13 years old. He had gone into puberty, first check up showed approx. a 47 degree curvature, next one was approx. 82 degrees. He had surgery. Double rods/posterior. I have a call into the surgeon to ask some questions, but basically from my understanding he had both a thoracic and lumbar curvature....worst was the lumbar...some damaged vertebrae. If I understand it, the L-1 to L-4 was done from the side/front with fusing/screws & whatever else they did. From T-3 to the Pelvic is the rods with what looks like to me wires.
Initially his back looked great. Over time though the curve has increased...I'm thinking the thoracic area...on the print out of the xrays it looks like a large C and looks like it continues up above the rods in the neck area. That could just be the way I am looking at it. He now has about a 72 degree curvature...give or take. I understand that there is both curvature and rotation involved. What I'm trying to understand is how it happens after rods have been put in. Anterior work was not done due to even more of a risk than he already was.
I'm hoping to get a better "picture" in my mind when I talk to the ortho surgeon again. We are setting up tests...sedated...to check pulmonary function. He's never had that done and has no history of pneumonia's. What I'm looking for is anyone who has had surgery done and then had the curvature re-occur and what their experience has been in terms of "what happens next".
Karen E.
Initially his back looked great. Over time though the curve has increased...I'm thinking the thoracic area...on the print out of the xrays it looks like a large C and looks like it continues up above the rods in the neck area. That could just be the way I am looking at it. He now has about a 72 degree curvature...give or take. I understand that there is both curvature and rotation involved. What I'm trying to understand is how it happens after rods have been put in. Anterior work was not done due to even more of a risk than he already was.
I'm hoping to get a better "picture" in my mind when I talk to the ortho surgeon again. We are setting up tests...sedated...to check pulmonary function. He's never had that done and has no history of pneumonia's. What I'm looking for is anyone who has had surgery done and then had the curvature re-occur and what their experience has been in terms of "what happens next".
Karen E.
Comment