Scoliosis - Back In Shape
Heidi Bunting of Morris is standing a little bit taller these days, after scoliosis surgery straightened the curve in her spine from 50 to 18 degrees.
It was at this annual check up she and her mother, Tammy, were informed she might fall into the 2 to 4percent of children between the ages of 10 and 16 with scoliosis.
Dr. Marlene Henze, Bunting’s regular doctor, had her go in for an x-ray and referred her to Dr. Eugene Kuo at Rezin Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.
“I didn’t know what scoliosis was until Dr. Kuo explained it to me,” said Bunting. “He said my spine was curved.”Dr. Kuo brought his skills in spinal surgery to Morris in August 2006, after completing his spine fellowship at the University of Texas-Houston.
“Scoliosis is often found during school physicals, when doctors or school nurses check for an abnormal prominence in the back,” said Dr. Kuo. “Most don’t need surgery, but in Heidi’s case, it was necessary.”
He said doctors don’t know why adolescent idiopathic scoliosis happens, but it occurs most frequently in girls in the 10 to 16 year old age group.
“It increases more during growth, which for girls can happen around two years premenstrual until they are done growing,” said Dr. Kuo.
He said there are three choices of action once scoliosis is diagnosed: observation, bracing or surgery.
Observation is often the initial choice until the child is done growing or when the curvature is only 10 to 30 degrees.
Bracing is often done at 30 to 50 degrees, depending on the age of the patient.
Surgery is normally sought when the curvature reaches 50 degrees or more.
“There are three goals for scoliosis surgery,” said Dr. Kuo. “Fusion, we fuse the spine so it won’t get worse. Balance, we want to restore spinal balance and placement of the head over the body. Safety, we want to assure we can do it safely.”
He said the spine is extremely sensitive and must be monitored during surgery.
“We monitor the extremities throughout surgery,” said Dr. Kuo. “While we would like correction, it is not the ultimate goal. To do the surgery safely, while preventing further curvature, is our primary goal.”
Bunting isn’t done growing yet, but with a 50-degree curvature, Dr. Kuo felt the time was now to insert the stainless steel rods and screws into the spine, fusing it to keep it under control as she finishes growing.
He said once the upper curve is corrected as much as possible and fused, the lower curve normally corrects itself. Bunting’s lower curve has corrected itself to an 11 degree curve in the time since her surgery.
Bunting was scheduled for surgery in November, after her mother took her for a second opinion and received the same advice, to get surgery done immediately.
“We went to Chicago for a second opinion, not because we didn’t believe him, but this was our daughter and I thought scoliosis meant just getting a brace,” said Tammy.
The brace was also recommended for use between the diagnosis and her November surgery.
“I didn’t really like the brace,” said Bunting. “It was uncomfortable and hard to get used to, especially in bed.”
Her mother admitted she sometimes would find the brace on the floor next to the bed in the morning, after Bunting shed it during the night.
Surgery would mean six weeks out of school, so they opted to do the surgery on Nov. 29, so part of her time off would fall during the winter school break.
“I was scared of the surgery,” said Bunting. “I was scared of dying.”
The surgery went off without a hitch and, before long, she was home bored, begging to return to school.
“My teachers brought me my homework and two of them came and tutored me on their own time every week,” said Bunting. “At least they gave me something to do.”
When students returned to school on Jan. 5, Bunting returned with them.
“The kids had a lot of questions about what happened and some say I’m taller,” said Bunting. “It’s better then wearing the brace to school. That was embarrassing.”
Bunting was just released to return to her beloved sports, which is all she originally bargained for with her visit to the doctor.
