News – Page 9 – National Scoliosis Foundation

USPSTF Public Comment Deadline is October 28, 2015

October 14, 2015 National Scoliosis Foundation NSF News scoliosis,Spinal

The US Preventive Services Task Force has published it’s draft research plan on Screening for Adolescent Idiopathic #Scoliosis (AIS). To comment on the USPSTF draft plan please click here.

Draft: Proposed Key Questions to Be Systematically Reviewed

Does screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis improve: a) health outcomes and b) the degree of abnormal #spinal curve in childhood or adulthood?
What is the accuracy of screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis?
Does treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with a Cobb angle of less than 50° at diagnosis improve: a) health outcomes and b) the degree of spinal curve in childhood or adulthood?
What is the association between Cobb angle measurement in adolescence and health outcomes in adulthood?
What are the harms of screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis?
What are the harms of treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with a Cobb angle of less than 50° at diagnosis?

Draft: Proposed Research Approach

The proposed Research Approach identifies the study characteristics and criteria that the Evidence-based Practice Center will use to search for publications and to determine whether identified studies should be included or excluded from the Evidence Review. Criteria are overarching as well as specific to each of the key questions (KQs).

	Include	Exclude
Populations	KQs 1, 2, 5: Asymptomatic children and adolescents ages 10 to 18 years KQs 3, 6: Persons with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis diagnosed at ages 10 to 18 years with a Cobb angle of 10° to 50° detected through screening KQ 4: Persons with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis diagnosed at ages 10 to 18 years with a Cobb angle of 10° to 50°	Persons with scoliosis of: Neuromuscular etiology (e.g., cerebral palsy, myelomeningocele, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, spina bifida, spinal cord injuries) Congenital etiology (e.g., hemivertebrae, failure of segmentation) Mesenchymal/syndromic etiology (e.g., Marfan syndrome, mucopolysaccharidosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, inflammatory diseases, postoperative) Early-onset idiopathic etiology (infantile [ages 0 to 3 years] or juvenile [ages 4 to 9 years])
Settings	Primary care or generalizable to primary care School-based screening programs Countries categorized as “High” on the Human Development Index (as defined by the United Nations Development Programme)	Specialty care (e.g., surgical clinics and clinics for conditions known to be associated with scoliosis) and other settings with a symptomatic population
Screening tests	KQs 1, 2, 5: Forward bend test (with or without scoliometer/inclinometer), surface topography, or other methods (e.g., back-contour device), followed by x-ray for confirmation KQ 2: Studies with a reference standard	KQs 1, 2, 5: X-ray alone Selective screening
Treatments	KQs 3, 6: Surgery Nonoperative treatment, including but not limited to: bracing, physical therapy/exercise therapy, and electrical muscle stimulation
Comparison	KQs 1, 2, 5: Usual care KQs 3, 6: Observation, usual care	KQs 1, 2, 5: Studies with no comparator KQs 3, 6: Comparative effectiveness studies
Harms	KQ 5: Any screening harms, including but not limited to: labeling, radiation exposure KQ 6: Any treatment harms, including but not limited to: psychosocial harms, physiological harms, functioning, or pain	KQs 5, 6: Studies with no comparator
Outcomes	Intermediate outcomes: Cobb angle measurement Health outcomes: Morbidity (e.g., pulmonary symptoms, hypertension, lumbar radiculopathy) Quality of life Functional outcomes (e.g., pain, musculoskeletal function, activity restriction) Mortality
Study design	KQs 1–4: Randomized, controlled trials; controlled trials; cohort studies KQs 5, 6: Randomized, controlled trials; controlled trials; cohort studies; case series	All KQs: Studies rated as poor quality KQs 1–4: Case series, cost-effectiveness studies, qualitative study designs

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to Review Scoliosis Screening

September 30, 2015 National Scoliosis Foundation Scoliosis in the Media National Scoliosis Foundation,scoliosis

The #National Scoliosis Foundation is pleased to report that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force will be reviewing screening for #scoliosis. We encourage everyone to sign up per the notification below to follow this very important effort, which we hope will lead to an evidence based decision to replace their 2004 statement with a posiitve recommendation for early detection of AIS.

“Soon, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF, Task Force) will be posting for public comment our draft research plan on screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis on our Web site. We thought that you and members of your organization might be interested in providing feedback on this draft research plan and receiving periodic updates on this topic. As such, I invite you to sign up for the USPSTF email list to receive announcements and updates on this and other Task Force recommendations about clinical preventive services. The USPSTF email list is open to anyone with interest in our work, so please let members of your organization know about this opportunity to offer comments on our research plan and the ability to sign up to receive updates from the Task Force.

As you may know, the Task Force is an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine. Our mission is to improve the health of all Americans by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screenings, counseling services, and preventive medications. The Task Force believes that the recommendation development process should be clear and transparent and, in an effort to ensure this, has implemented public comment periods throughout the recommendation process. The purpose of the public comment process is to seek feedback from organizations like yours, along with the general public, at each stage of development. The Task Force believes that our recommendations are ultimately improved when groups who care about and are knowledgeable about particular topics share their expertise. We solicit outside input to ensure that final recommendations are valid, reliable, and useful to health professionals, patients, and family members.

Individuals who sign up for the USPSTF email list will be alerted about opportunities to provide public comment on draft materials for screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and other Task Force topics. Email alerts will also be sent when final materials are posted or published, including the release of final recommendation statements. For each topic, an email announcement will be sent at the following stages of the recommendation development process:

Posting of the draft research plan for public comment
Posting of the final research plan
Posting of the draft recommendation statement and draft evidence review for public comment
Publication and posting of the final recommendation statement and the evidence summary

We hope that you will widely disseminate the final recommendation statement, following the rigorous, evidence-based recommendation development process and public comment periods, among your membership and encourage your members to implement it once it becomes available.

As I noted earlier, the USPSTF email list is open to all interested organizations and individuals. If you know of any other national or local organizations, subject matter experts, or individuals who are interested in learning about Task Force recommendations, like screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, public comment opportunities, and other Task Force activities, please encourage them to sign up as well.

To learn more about the Task Force, you can view a Task Force 101 slideshow or visit our Web site.

Together, we can work to improve the health of all Americans.

Sincerely,

Albert L. Siu, M.D., M.S.P.H.

Chair, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force”

Fond Memories of Herb Homer

September 11, 2015 National Scoliosis Foundation NSF News

On this anniversary of 9/11 we express our gratitude for everyone who keeps us safe and protects our freedom in our daily lives. We also remember the people and families greatly impacted by this terrible tragedy, especially for our friend and fellow Board Member, Herb Homer, who was aboard United Flight 175. May he forever rest in peace.

Medical Device Patient Labeling

September 2, 2015 National Scoliosis Foundation NSF News

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a public workshop entitled “Medical Device Patient Labeling”. The purpose of the public workshop is to discuss issues associated with the development and use of medical device patient labeling including content, testing, use, access, human factors, emerging media formats, and promotion and advertising. The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CRDH) is seeking input about these topics from patients and advocacy groups, academic and professional organizations, industry, standards organizations, and governmental agencies.

This workshop will be available by webcast. CDRH encourages patients and patient advocates/organizations to participate.

For additional information and registration, please see:

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/NewsEvents/WorkshopsConferences/ucm455361.htm

You can make a difference! Your input is welcomed!

July 24, 2015 National Scoliosis Foundation NSF News National Scoliosis Foundation,scoliosis,spine

You can make a difference! Your input is welcomed!

The #National Scoliosis Foundation is building a new website to mark our 40th year of service to the #scoliosis community. And, we’d love to have your input!

For four decades we have generated scoliosis awareness, provided patient education/support/communication, trained screeners, facilitated/funded research (cause, prevention & cure), and advocated for early detection and treatment to minimize the physical, emotional and financial burdens affecting patients, and families, living with abnormal curvatures of the #spine.

Your input to our site design effort is important and appreciated. What do you suggest we include on our new website? What information or resources would you like to see to better help you, your family, the greater scoliosis community and/or our mission? What should we add to ease the scoliosis patient journey and improve the quality of life for all?

We are planning some exciting new features, but we value your thoughts and are eager to listen to your needs. No idea is too big or too small. Please email your input to nsf@scoliosis.org.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Understanding Kyphosis

July 1, 2015 National Scoliosis Foundation Patients, Resources

From time to time, the National Scoliosis Foundation receives letters from parents about kyphosis. To find out more about this spinal deformity, our Medical Update editor, Nancy Schommer, interviewed Dr. Howard King, Clinical Associate Professor of Orthopaedic surgery, University of Washington, and Northwest Spine and Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons Seattle, Washington. What follows are excerpts from that interview.

Continue reading Understanding Kyphosis

A New Alternative Treatment for Idiopathic Scoliosis

July 1, 2015 National Scoliosis Foundation Awareness, Medical Updates, Parents, Patients, Treatment

“During a recent school screening, it was determined that your son/daughter may have a condition called scoliosis, or curvature of the spine. Please consult your physician for further information and available treatment options.”

For most parents, this news can be both alarming and confusing, especially when a child appears to be both healthy and active at the time of diagnosis. Clearly, routine spinal screenings have done much to increase the population’s awareness of scoliosis in general, but serious questions rarely arise until a parent discovers that his or her child may have the disorder.

Continue reading A New Alternative Treatment for Idiopathic Scoliosis

Understanding Flat-Back Syndrome

June 23, 2015 National Scoliosis Foundation Medical Updates, Resources

From time to time, NSF receives inquiries about a condition called flat back syndrome. To find out more about it, Nancy Schommer recently interviewed Michael LaGrone, MD, a scoliosis specialist who has a private practice in Amarillo, Texas. Dr. LaGrone is a member of the Scoliosis Research Society and a medical advisor to the NSF. He is also a member of the clinical faculty of the Texas Tech University Health Science Center.

Continue reading Understanding Flat-Back Syndrome

Rib Thoracoplasty

June 23, 2015 National Scoliosis Foundation Medical Updates, Patients, Pre-Op & Post-Op

Every year, the National Scoliosis Foundation receives queries about rib thoracoplasty, a surgical technique sometimes used to help patients with scoliosis who also suffer from a “rib hump”. To find out more about the procedure, NSF asked Dr. Serena S. Hu, Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, to respond to a number of questions. What follows are excerpts of her responses, which have been edited by Nancy Schommer, author of Stopping Scoliosis.

Continue reading Rib Thoracoplasty

Pain

June 23, 2015 National Scoliosis Foundation Medical Updates, Parents, Patients, Pre-Op & Post-Op

Because the National Scoliosis Foundation receives constant inquiries from individuals asking whether pain is a symptom of idiopathic scoliosis, we interviewed Dr. Robert Winter, internationally know for work in surgical and non-surgical treatment of spine deformity. Dr. Winter is the author of numerous textbooks, papers, and chapters of surgical textbooks. He is a frequent speaker at national and international orthopaedics conferences. He is also a founding member and past president of the Scoliosis Research Society, President of the Minnesota Spine Center, Chief of Spine Service at Gillette Children’s Hospital, and Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Minnesota.

Continue reading Pain