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  • "Amazing Disappearing Juvenile Scoliosis"

    From the Hey clinic...

    amazing-disappearing-juvenile-scoliosis.html

    "Abigail is a young lady who was placed in a brace 3 years ago at age 7 and has decreased her curve from 40 degrees to 4! This is a perfect example of a juvenile scoliosis case, which you see in children between 5 and 7 years old, most of which will resolve as they get older. More than 90% of cases do NOT turn into idiopathic scoliosis."

    Hey seems to be saying that even reductions from 40* to 4* are expected and most JIS cases resolve as kids get older.

    That is not the impression I got from some of the JIS testimonials.

    So even here, JIS cases that resolve cannot be assumed to be due to bracing I guess.
    Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

    No island of sanity.

    Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
    Answer: Medicine


    "We are all African."

  • #2
    You can't prove that it wasn't the brace that helped her spine grow straight, can you? How common is it that a 40 degree curve resolves itself without help?

    Aren't bracing studies fun?

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi Sharon,

      I am pretty confounded by Dr Hey's comments about JIS. I have combed the literature over the past 18 months since Leah was diagnosed at age 6, and have seen several top pediatric spine specialists. All told us the same thing as what I have read: basically 70% of JIS cases progress and 30% don't, and of those that do progress, 95% of those children will go on to need fusion. SRS says the same thing. So what is a parent to think??

      Maybe I need some of what Dr Hey is drinking today! Just kidding, but I am truly puzzled by his comments. I wonder if he replies to e-mails...probably not.

      So I am curious, this young lady Abigail, does she still have to wear her brace until she is done growing, or does he now deem her scoliosis resolved and discontinue bracing?? That's what I really want to know.
      Gayle, age 50
      Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
      Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
      Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1


      mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
      2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
      2017 curves stable/skeletely mature

      also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable

      Comment


      • #4
        Gayle,

        I hope you try to email him those questions.

        He really sounds like he is coming out of left field compared to what you are being told.

        He didn't seem surprised at the huge correction and I got the impression he though it was commonplace from his wording.

        I don't know where you live but maybe you can get an opinion frmo him.

        Or send your daughter's casework to him and ask if there is something else to try. I have no idea if he will respond.
        Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

        No island of sanity.

        Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
        Answer: Medicine


        "We are all African."

        Comment


        • #5
          Gayle,

          I have been dealing with JIS for almost 5 years and have never heard that "More than 90% of cases do NOT turn into idiopathic
          scoliosis." as Dr. Hey says. In fact, like you, I have always been told quite the opposite.

          He didn't mention the type of brace Abigal was using, I'd be curious to find that out.
          Emily's mom-11 1/2 years old
          28 degree scoliosis 9/04
          Chiari Malformation/SM decompressed 11/04
          17-24 degrees 11/04-6/07
          Wearing Spinecor Brace since June 07
          3/31/10- 29 degrees oob
          11/18/09 17 degrees in brace

          Comment


          • #6
            Even though I'm in the same town as Hey, there is nothing I can do to help find this information.

            Asking these questions is no excuse to show up at his clinic.

            Maybe he will respond to email.

            ETA: Maybe you can post a comment on the blog.
            Last edited by Pooka1; 07-18-2009, 10:34 AM.
            Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

            No island of sanity.

            Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
            Answer: Medicine


            "We are all African."

            Comment


            • #7
              Another spontaneously resolving JIS case

              http://drlloydhey.blogspot.com/2008/...er-on-its.html

              "Last week we saw Olivia, a delightful 5 yo young girl for follow-up for her scoliosis.
              She was sent to us 4 months ago with a scoliometer reading of over 7 degrees.
              Her X-Rays in our office, measured very accurately on our digital scoliosis X-Ray system showed a 28 degree scoliosis 4 months ago.
              This last set of digital X-Rays taken in our office showed that her curve had decreased to 20 degrees!
              Great news for Olivia and her family!
              We often see scoliotic curves especially in this younger age group actually improve with growth."


              You know, this business of spontaneous improvement and even total correction was seen in the data of that large survey I published. So I would say it isn't at odds with that but maybe I'm missing something.
              Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

              No island of sanity.

              Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
              Answer: Medicine


              "We are all African."

              Comment


              • #8
                Spontaneously resolving curves in young JIS kids

                Hi Sharon,

                Interesting second post from Dr Hey. That actually helps me understand where he is coming from. There are numerous, albeit brief, mentions of the possibility of spontaneous curve resolution in younger JIS kids, I think mainly in the age 6 and under group. My understanding is that these kids are felt to be late-diagnosed infantile idiopathic scoliosis, which frequently resolves spontaneously with growth. I also think that is why the newer terminology of "early onset scoliosis" came about, since many of the JIS cases of age 6 and under more closely resemble the natural history of IIS, while the "older" JIS cases of age 7 and above have curves that act more like AIS. It seems like the age of 6 is a rather pivotal point in terms of diagnosis. So I think this must be where Dr Hey is coming from with his comments.

                My daughter was diagnosed at her 6th birthday, although I had noticed the telltale signs in her back for several months before her birthday. She was diagnosed at 26 degrees. She never had any documented progression. We braced her 3 months after her diagnosis (still at 26 degrees) and her curve quickly dropped, to the high teens, after 5 months of part-time bracing. We elected to give her a try out of brace, and at last check, 8 months later, she is still stable at under 20. Bracing was very difficult for our family, so we are thrilled that she has been able to have this time when her childhood is completely normal and carefree. Her next check-up will be in September, one year after she came out of the brace. So even if the curve has increased at that point, she had one free year, which is wonderful. No one knows at this point what will happen with her back, so we are just happy for what we have today.
                Gayle, age 50
                Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
                Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
                Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1


                mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
                2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
                2017 curves stable/skeletely mature

                also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable

                Comment


                • #9
                  Gayle,

                  It sounds like you figured out where Hey was going with his comments.

                  You are an excellent Mommy, BTW.

                  sharon
                  Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                  No island of sanity.

                  Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                  Answer: Medicine


                  "We are all African."

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Spontaneously resolving curves in young JIS kids

                    Hi Sharon,

                    Interesting second post from Dr Hey. That actually helps me understand where he is coming from. There are numerous, albeit brief, mentions of the possibility of spontaneous curve resolution in younger JIS kids, I think mainly in the age 6 and under group. My understanding is that these kids are felt to be late-diagnosed infantile idiopathic scoliosis, which frequently resolves spontaneously with growth. I also think that is why the newer terminology of "early onset scoliosis" came about, since many of the JIS cases of age 6 and under more closely resemble the natural history of IIS, while the "older" JIS cases of age 7 and above have curves that act more like AIS. It seems like the age of 6 is a rather pivotal point in terms of diagnosis. So I think this must be where Dr Hey is coming from with his comments.

                    My daughter was diagnosed at her 6th birthday, although I had noticed the telltale signs in her back for several months before her birthday. She was diagnosed at 26 degrees. She never had any documented progression. We braced her 3 months after her diagnosis (still at 26 degrees) and her curve quickly dropped, to the high teens, after 5 months of part-time bracing. We elected to give her a try out of brace, and at last check, 8 months later, she is still stable at under 20. Bracing was very difficult for our family, so we are thrilled that she has been able to have this time when her childhood is completely normal and carefree. Her next check-up will be in September, one year after she came out of the brace. So even if the curve has increased at that point, she had one free year, which is wonderful. No one knows at this point what will happen with her back, so we are just happy for what we have today.
                    Gayle, age 50
                    Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
                    Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
                    Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1


                    mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
                    2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
                    2017 curves stable/skeletely mature

                    also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Gayle,

                      It sounds like you figured out where Hey was going with his comments.

                      You are an excellent Mommy, BTW.

                      sharon
                      Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                      No island of sanity.

                      Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                      Answer: Medicine


                      "We are all African."

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        deja vu

                        deja vu deja vu deja vu deja vu
                        Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                        Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by LindaRacine View Post
                          deja vu

                          deja vu deja vu deja vu deja vu
                          LOL!

                          I saw her post twice so I answered twice.
                          Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                          No island of sanity.

                          Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                          Answer: Medicine


                          "We are all African."

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Hi- this sounds like our story. My Abby (not the same one in the study) was diagnosed at her 5 yr. checkup. She continued to worsen under observation for the next year and a half- so, about age 6 1/2. Then, the curve began to regress on its own, and now at age 8 there is no curve at all.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              abbysmom, that's wonderful. do you mind me asking what her curve was first diagnosed at? and how large it got before it started to regress?
                              Thanks!
                              daughter, 12, diagnosed 8/07 with 19T/13L
                              -Braced in spinecor 10/07 - 8/12 with excellent in brace correction and stable/slightly decreased out of brace curves.
                              -Introduced Providence brace as adjunct at night in 11/2011 in anticipation of growth spurt. Curves still stable.
                              -Currently in Boston Brace. Growth spurt is here and curves (and rotation) have increased to 23T/17L

                              Comment

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