117 patients were analyzed to assess if any of the preoperative labs could identify which patients were at a greater risk for a deep surgical site than other patients. We are constantly striving to minimize, and ideally eliminate, surgical site infections after posterior spinal fusion. There is a lot more work to be done! To […]
Month: April 2020
Halo-Gravity Traction in Spinal Deformity Treatment (Part 2)
To provide a more complete answer from the last blog on “when” we use halo-gravity traction, the answer is: Before spine deformity surgery, at which time growing rods, Shilla Growth Guidance System or a definitive spinal fusion is performed. Case: 5 year old male with 101 degree curve. Decreases to 72 degrees after 6 weeks […]
Halo-Gravity Traction in Spinal Deformity Treatment (Part 1)
1. What is halo-gravity traction (HGT)? Gravity pulls the body down, and causes the spine to bend and twist more, especially for those individuals with scoliosis or kyphosis or both. Simply put, gravity makes spinal deformity worse. Laying down in bed, or on the ground, negates the force of gravity making the spinal deformity better […]
“Doctor, What Would You Do?”
“Doctor, what would you do?”….DWWYD…or more precisely: “What would you do if this was your child?” Fifteen years ago I rarely heard this question from parents and caregivers. Now this is a commonly asked question. The media (e.g. Parents Magazine) and advocacy groups have advocated this question as a good one to ask medical providers, […]