Kira Scrogham loves running track and cross-country, and a spinal fusion surgery to correct her scoliosis hasn’t slowed down this 16-year-old. Kira has always loved being involved in sports, but in sixth grade, a scoliosis screening put into question her future as an athlete. “She did a sports physical, and they found a curve,” said…
Tethering for scoliosis is a newer, minimally invasive surgery that works with a child’s natural growth process to correct their spinal curvature over time. Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, offers the latest pediatric scoliosis tethering technology. “Tethering is a newer technique that corrects a child’s scoliosis, but unlike…
When a child is being treated for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), many parents have questions about what to expect after spinal fusion surgery: What will my child’s recovery be like? What happens before and after the operation? How will the treatment team ensure my child remains as comfortable as possible? Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville, affiliated…
The pediatric orthopedic specialists at Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, have started using an extremely low-radiation system for collecting high-quality 2D and 3D images. The low-radiation feature of the technology is especially attractive for children who may need multiple images over the years to monitor scoliosis. If surgery…
Growing rods and a new, less invasive technique — magnetic rods — offer surgical alternatives for children with early onset scoliosis who don’t respond well to casting and whose curve is likely to get worse as they grow, according to a pediatric orthopedist at Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville, affiliated with the UofL School of…
There are three basic ways to treat scoliosis in kids, depending on whether they are still growing and the severity of the curve. When viewed from the side, the spine needs to have some curve to it, in both the upper and lower back. But with idiopathic scoliosis — scoliosis with no known cause —…
An innovative surgery using 3D printing technology is alleviating pain for some of the most critical and complicated cases. A 13-year-old girl from Clarksville, Indiana is one of those cases. Haley Kessinger was born with achondroplasia, a common form of dwarfism, as well as a deformity in her spine. As Haley got older, the curve…
Scoliosis affects about 7 million people in the U.S. Scoliosis describes an abnormal curve in the spine, which can vary in severity. Scoliosis can develop in infancy or early childhood, and many children are diagnosed with scoliosis from around ages 10 to 15. For children who need treatment, options range from physical therapy, such as…
The typical scoliosis screening age starts about age 10, as the screening is most helpful during an adolescent’s growth spurt. If your health care provider detects a curve in the spine that needs treatment, a brace will often correct the condition at this age and can prevent the need for surgery later in life. Girls…
Gracie Latkovski is sitting up straighter and breathing easier after undergoing state-of-the-art spine surgery. Her surgeons were able to be precise in her complex surgery by preparing with the help of a 3D printed replica of the 14-year-old’s spine. “Health-wise, it has helped her tremendously,” said Christin Latkovski, Gracie’s mother. “We are totally excited about…
I remember coming home from school in tears one afternoon. Earlier that day, our sixth-grade class had received health screenings. After looking over my back, one of the examiners gave me some shocking news. “You probably need to see a doctor,” she said. “I think you have scoliosis.” I was terrified. I’d heard that some…
“All I knew was that I had a cool curve in my spine,” Ellen Denham told her friends six years ago. At the time, Denham was diagnosed with scoliosis while having a physical exam for high school athletics at Presentation Academy. She didn’t understand the severity of the situation until later. “I went from doctor to doctor…