Short video of Dr. Newton explaining a T fusion and rotation correction

[Pooka1]

Originally posted on Simone's group...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbQaT7z54E4

Rotation is deformity in the transverse plane (looking straight down the spine from the head).

Cobb angle is deformity in the coronal plane (front-back).

Kyphosis/lordosis outside normal range are deformities in the sagittal plane (side-side).

[Elisa]

Yikes, he just gets right in there and cranks that spine around doesn't he. O_o

I can see why my son will be having the first surgery and halo traction to straighten him out somewhat before he gets cranked. 110* stiff curve needs all the help it can get I guess.

[titaniumed]

Sharon
Thx for posting.

After seeing the Discovery channel, Dr Boachie program “Surgery saved my life”, it really had an effect on me. There really wasn’t much out there that showed the graphic details of correcting a deformed spine at the time. I must have watched it 20 times leading up to my surgeries.....

Juma was the boy in that video who was huge. I cant remember, but I think he was about 110 degrees and had a kyphosis issue. I sure would like to see how he is doing today. They had him in the video at a few months in the “delicate state” but they should go back and show him now. There is a huge difference between being a few months post and a few years.

I wouldn’t know how to respond as to advising someone to viewing graphic video’s of their surgeries...I guess its just up to each individual. I had an idea what it would include, and after viewing, gained a much better understanding of what was going to happen. I think it was beneficial for me, but I was 49. I guess it was something I just had to see.

I also remember in that film when Juma’s mom comes to visit. She moves in for a hug, and Juma back’s off. I know how he felt, you are just so raw and so delicate inside that “hugs” actually hurt....your skin at the incision site can burn, and its numb. After a while, and it can take some time, hugs really are ok.

Ed

[Pooka1]

There are people who faint at blood being drawn. They can't help it. It would be a shame if someone like that wanted to see a video of what would happen during their surgery.

I think a live issue is that folks may equate the "goriness" with safety/risk. If posterior spinal fusion surgery seems gory, that would be completely out of step with how safe it is. It's one of those paradoxes. I'm sure my ruptured ectopic operation was somewhat gory... I can imagine almost half my blood volume that had pooled in my abdominal cavity suddenly exiting through that first incision possibly being gory to some. But it saved my life and I was completely fine afterwards.

Once I knew the straight dope on actual risk of specific complications associated with this fusion surgery, the surgeries became fascinating. And if you recall that one video of those two guys in the Midwest doing a lumbar fusion whilst casually taking questions from an online audience, I am willing to take a cue from them. The most hair-raising thing for me on that entire video was the comment that some kids return to school after only a week. (smiley face) I remain skeptical.

[mariaf]

The most hair-raising thing for me on that entire video was the comment that some kids return to school after only a week. (smiley face) I remain skeptical.

That would raise my hair as well :-)

[titaniumed]

Sharon
I guess you are right about the fainting. Maybe, its an acquired taste. Sometimes, you just have to put the seatbelt on and go with it and you will get used to it. I personally find it fascinating, complex and alluring especially after a tour of our local medical school. It also helps to have wondered about it for a few decades....

People that get the flu or stub their toe stay off work for a week. I think a week for any scoli surgery is pushing it a little. If they would have said 8 days, I might have bought it. lol It took me a few months till I was comfortable with jumping from the nest. Those first flights are monumental events! Life returns....sometimes with pain, but you keep on keeping on, and things generally get better with time.

Elisa
I wonder how stiff your son really is? I could see adults with 30-50 year old scoliotic curves being stiff, but I think that in your son’s case they will get a substantial correction. When you have a 110 degree curve, a 40 or 50 degree curve would be a fantastic correction, especially from a high thoracic curve. The halo traction will help with the stretching process.

I have used traction tables (Vax-d) and vertical traction while on a tredmill through the years. 50# is a good pull, and they should ease into it slowly....I could imagine that an x-ray after a month of pulling would reduce his curve to about half, so initiating his surgery at that stage is a bonus...He will probably stretch out like a rubber band being 14 years old.
Ed

[Elisa]

Ed, Dr. K might not have said that his curve is "stiff" but rather that it was not flexible. At one point when he was examining my son he had him stand up, bend over and then he maneuvered him side to side (a bit roughly, lol) and shook his head and said something to his assistant about him not being flexible/stiff or something like that. I tried really hard to pay attention to every word he said but he does have an accent and does speak rather softly. I'll find out a lot more when we're actually down there.

I hope he does stretch out like a rubber band, haha! ONE month to go!

Oh, those videos don't bother me at all and I find them fascinating. Unfortunately neither my husband nor daughter can stand to even talk about the upcoming surgeries and I don't want to scare my son so I can only really talk about this stuff here. The only thing that I am extremely squeamish about is smells. I get a whiff of something that's off and it's an instant heave, gag and cover the mouth before spew.

[Elisa]

Can't help but visualize my son's spine like one of those jointed push puppets after his first surgery to "loosen" him up and after he has his halo applied. Everything is going to be so loosey goosey like someone's disjointed his spine and then it all pops back again after his second surgery.

[Pooka1]

Can't help but visualize my son's spine like one of those jointed push puppets after his first surgery to "loosen" him up and after he has his halo applied. Everything is going to be so loosey goosey like someone's disjointed his spine and then it all pops back again after his second surgery.

TOTALLY EXCELLENT ANALOGY!!!!

I love it!

[Elisa]

B-o-i-n-g. Lol!

[ddb]

I hope someday I'll be able to see the video, but can't yet. Being an Emergency care provider I see a lot, and really would like to view it, but still have one to go. After second DD is done with surgery I'll definetly view, but don't think I can before.

Dee