Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital in Baton Rouge, La., said it is the first hospital in the state to perform spine surgery with OrthoPediatrics' ApiFix technology, brproud.com reported March 2.
Orthopedic surgeons John Faust, MD, Brad Culotta, MD, and Ryan Farmer, MD, on Feb. 22 performed the procedure, which is designed to treat progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
Surgeons can use ApiFix to permanently correct curvature of the spine and retain spinal flexibility, according to OrthoPediatrics, which secured the rights to the technology after its acquisition of ApiFix in April 2020. The device is used as an alternative to spinal fusion.
"The procedure is a real breakthrough in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, offering a less-invasive option with more spinal motion control compared to traditional spinal fusion," Dr. Faust said