Here are 8 stories about scoliosis and the best methods for effective treatment.
1. Factors in Reducing Complication Rate in Scoliosis. Researchers studied data from 140 patients recorded in the multicenter Growing Spine Study Group database to compare treatment for early-onset scoliosis. Fifty-eight percent of the patients had at least one complication, and 27 percent of patients with single-rod implants had unplanned procedures because of implant complications. Only 10 percent of the 69 patients with dual rods found similar unplanned procedures necessary.
Read more of "Factors in Reducing Complication Rate in Scoliosis."
2. Growing Rods for Scoliosis Treatment Likely to Cause Autofusion. Researchers conducted a retrospective review of the medical records and radiographs of young patients who received treatment for scoliosis using growing rods. The rate of autofusion in the patients treated with growing rods was 89 percent. The average percent of the Cobb angle was 44 percent, and an average of seven osteotomies per patient were required at the time of definitive fusion due to autofusion.
Read more of "Growing Rods for Scoliosis Treatment Likely to Cause Autofusion."
3. Scoliosoft Scoliosis Database. Vincent Arlet, MD, a spine surgeon with the University of Virginia School of Medicine recently developed an international online database called Scolisoft for scoliosis cases. The database includes case and outcomes data for different types of treatments for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, along with images of the patients' spine. Surgeons can upload cases to the database, use existing cases for research or when deciding on treatment methods for their patients.
Read more of "Scoliosoft Scoliosis Database."
4. Areas for Cost Reduction in Adolescent Scoliosis Treatment. Researchers performed a retrospective review of more than 16,500 individual costs and charges for 125 consecutive patients treated by three different physicians to determine the highest charges for scoliosis correction. They found that implants were responsible for 29 percent of the charges, while the intensive care unit and inpatient room costs were 22 percent, operating room costs were 9.9 percent and bone grafts were 6 percent of the costs.
Read more of "Areas for Cost Reduction in Adolescent Scoliosis Treatment."
5. Positive Trials for MAGEC Remote Control for Scoliosis Pain Management. The study enrolled 25 patients in six hospital centers across three countries. Minimally-invasive surgery is initially used to implant the MAGEC distracting rod into the child's spine. The implant is then adjusted over time using a non-invasive remote control to help straighten the patient's spine as they grow.
Read more of "Positive Trials for MAGEC Remote Control for Scoliosis Pain Management."
6. SCOLIOSCORE Predicts Chances of Spine Curvature in Children. SCOLISCORE, a test developed by DePuy Spine, detects gene patterns typically found in patients with scoliosis or spinal curvature and can predict a young patient's potential for spine disorder. The test is performed by using the patient's saliva sample. A SCOLIOSCORE is most effective with patients aged nine to thirteen who have curves under 25 degrees.
Read more of "SCOLIOSCORE Predicts Chances of Spine Curvature in Children."
7. Stem Cells Could be Effective for Treating Invertebral Disc Disease in Scoliosis Patients. Researchers isolated annulus fibrosus cells from the nondegenerative invertebral discs of adolescent patients with ideiopathic scoliosis and cultured the cells in vitro. They found that the cells expressed several of the cell surface antigens associated with mesenechymal stem cells. Researchers found that the cells differentiated into adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, neurons and endothelial cells in vitro.
Read more of "Stem Cells Could be Effective for Treating Invertebral Disc Disease in Scoliosis Patients."
8. Minimally Invasive Decompression Revision Rates Higher For Scoliosis Patients. Researchers evaluated a single surgeon's patients receiving MIS lumbar laminoplasty for focal lumbar spinal stenosis over a period of five years. Twenty-two patients had no deformity, 25 had only spondylolisthesis, 16 had stenosis with scoliosis and 12 had stenosis combined with spondylolisthesis and scoliosis. The revision rate for patients with scoliosis was significant compared to patients without scoliosis.
Read more of "Minimally Invasive Decompression Revision Rates Higher For Scoliosis Patients."
1. Factors in Reducing Complication Rate in Scoliosis. Researchers studied data from 140 patients recorded in the multicenter Growing Spine Study Group database to compare treatment for early-onset scoliosis. Fifty-eight percent of the patients had at least one complication, and 27 percent of patients with single-rod implants had unplanned procedures because of implant complications. Only 10 percent of the 69 patients with dual rods found similar unplanned procedures necessary.
Read more of "Factors in Reducing Complication Rate in Scoliosis."
2. Growing Rods for Scoliosis Treatment Likely to Cause Autofusion. Researchers conducted a retrospective review of the medical records and radiographs of young patients who received treatment for scoliosis using growing rods. The rate of autofusion in the patients treated with growing rods was 89 percent. The average percent of the Cobb angle was 44 percent, and an average of seven osteotomies per patient were required at the time of definitive fusion due to autofusion.
Read more of "Growing Rods for Scoliosis Treatment Likely to Cause Autofusion."
3. Scoliosoft Scoliosis Database. Vincent Arlet, MD, a spine surgeon with the University of Virginia School of Medicine recently developed an international online database called Scolisoft for scoliosis cases. The database includes case and outcomes data for different types of treatments for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, along with images of the patients' spine. Surgeons can upload cases to the database, use existing cases for research or when deciding on treatment methods for their patients.
Read more of "Scoliosoft Scoliosis Database."
4. Areas for Cost Reduction in Adolescent Scoliosis Treatment. Researchers performed a retrospective review of more than 16,500 individual costs and charges for 125 consecutive patients treated by three different physicians to determine the highest charges for scoliosis correction. They found that implants were responsible for 29 percent of the charges, while the intensive care unit and inpatient room costs were 22 percent, operating room costs were 9.9 percent and bone grafts were 6 percent of the costs.
Read more of "Areas for Cost Reduction in Adolescent Scoliosis Treatment."
5. Positive Trials for MAGEC Remote Control for Scoliosis Pain Management. The study enrolled 25 patients in six hospital centers across three countries. Minimally-invasive surgery is initially used to implant the MAGEC distracting rod into the child's spine. The implant is then adjusted over time using a non-invasive remote control to help straighten the patient's spine as they grow.
Read more of "Positive Trials for MAGEC Remote Control for Scoliosis Pain Management."
6. SCOLIOSCORE Predicts Chances of Spine Curvature in Children. SCOLISCORE, a test developed by DePuy Spine, detects gene patterns typically found in patients with scoliosis or spinal curvature and can predict a young patient's potential for spine disorder. The test is performed by using the patient's saliva sample. A SCOLIOSCORE is most effective with patients aged nine to thirteen who have curves under 25 degrees.
Read more of "SCOLIOSCORE Predicts Chances of Spine Curvature in Children."
7. Stem Cells Could be Effective for Treating Invertebral Disc Disease in Scoliosis Patients. Researchers isolated annulus fibrosus cells from the nondegenerative invertebral discs of adolescent patients with ideiopathic scoliosis and cultured the cells in vitro. They found that the cells expressed several of the cell surface antigens associated with mesenechymal stem cells. Researchers found that the cells differentiated into adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, neurons and endothelial cells in vitro.
Read more of "Stem Cells Could be Effective for Treating Invertebral Disc Disease in Scoliosis Patients."
8. Minimally Invasive Decompression Revision Rates Higher For Scoliosis Patients. Researchers evaluated a single surgeon's patients receiving MIS lumbar laminoplasty for focal lumbar spinal stenosis over a period of five years. Twenty-two patients had no deformity, 25 had only spondylolisthesis, 16 had stenosis with scoliosis and 12 had stenosis combined with spondylolisthesis and scoliosis. The revision rate for patients with scoliosis was significant compared to patients without scoliosis.
Read more of "Minimally Invasive Decompression Revision Rates Higher For Scoliosis Patients."