Galveston – Reyna Rankin, a young patient diagnosed with scoliosis, and her mother, Dayna, recently shared their journey about the importance of early detection and treatment options available at Shriners Children’s Hospital.
Scoliosis affects many children, but with early detection and modern treatment options, the need for surgery can often be avoided.
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Reyna was diagnosed with scoliosis after a fall down the stairs led to an unexpected discovery at the emergency room. Her mother recognized the need for specialized care and reached out to Shriners Children’s Texas, where they found effective treatment.
At Shriners Children’s Texas, doctors emphasize that early detection is crucial.
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Early intervention allows for less invasive options
According to Dr. William Phillips, “If a child has a small scoliosis, sometimes we just watch it to make sure it doesn’t get worse as they go through puberty and their adolescent growth spurt. If it’s a little bit bigger, then we can talk about some kind of a brace to give the spine some extra support while they finish growing. Bracing isn’t perfect, but there are some pretty good studies that show that bracing can substantially reduce the risk of a child needing surgery for scoliosis.”
Despite school screening requirements in Texas, many children can still slip through the cracks. Dr. Phillips noted a lot of doctors don’t necessarily look for scoliosis.
“I mean, in fairness, they’re busy doing a lot of other things. There’s a lot of other things to worry about at a primary care visit, and so it just happens sometimes,” Dr. Phillips said.
Tethering
Newer treatment options, such as tethering, are being explored, allowing for controlled growth of the spine without traditional surgery.
“You put a tether in to slow down the growth on the outside and let the inside keep growing and hopefully grow straight,” Dr. Phillips explained.
In addition to tethering, there are non-surgical options for managing scoliosis. Physical therapy plays a significant role, helping to strengthen muscles around the spine, improve posture, and increase flexibility.
Bracing
Another option is specialized scoliosis braces, which can be custom fitted to provide necessary support while allowing for some movement.
“Bracing is most effective when the child is still growing. The goal is to prevent the curve from progressing and to avoid surgery altogether. We have seen success with patients who adhere to their bracing regimen,” Phillips said.
EOS imaging
Shriners Hospital has also introduced EOS imaging, a new x-ray technique that reduces radiation exposure while providing detailed images of the spine.
“We have a pretty good sized scoliosis clinic here. We have a special x-ray unit called an EOS, which has about one-fifth the radiation exposure of regular x-ray units that are in most hospitals,” Phillips said. “If I start seeing them when they’re 10 years old and I follow them along until they’re all done growing at age 14 or 15, that’s at least two x-rays a year, maybe more, depending on things, if they have surgery. Every x-ray increases minimally your risk of cancer.”
This innovative technology offers more accurate assessments of spinal curvature while the patient is standing, crucial for diagnosing scoliosis.
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“It was definitely a roller coaster. I don’t remember most of my days here at the hospital,” said Reyna. “I have to use, like my hips more, I guess. So, something like really random is like putting on socks and shoes. Usually, you would bend down and pull them up, but I have to kick my leg backwards and scoop my foot into the sock.”
Early detection is key, and parents of kids going into fifth and eighth grades are encouraged to make sure their students get the required check for scoliosis.
