David Siambanes, DO, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon specializing in reconstructive spine surgery,performed spinal fusion to correct a severe kyphosis disorder in a 17-year-old patient in Florida.
The surgery was scheduled after an X-ray confirmed the patient had a rare form of the disorder, Scheuermann's kyphosis, according to a Jan. 6 news release.
The disorder causes the front of several vertebrae to shift forward and develop into a triangular shape, resulting in a sharp forward bend in the spine, Dr. Siambanes said.
"Unlike a patient with the milder form of postural kyphosis, those with Scheuermann's kyphosis cannot correct their curve simply by trying to stand up straight," he said.
The surgery took place in October at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa, where Dr. Siambanes serves as medical director of the scoliosis center.
He previously served as president of the spine section of the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics and co-chairman of the medical advisory team for the Children's Spine Foundation.