Yesterday I received a very nice hand-written note from Jane, who I had helped with a complex scoliosis correction surgery a year ago.
Her reconstruction went from T3 down to the iliac wing, with a multi-level lumbar laminectomy.
I was able to perform her surgery through one skin incision, and she had no significant complications during her 1 year recovery.
She is a good example of our efforts to continually improve our surgical techniques and clinical processes, including learning from our own clinical outcomes databases.
She is also an example how adults, and even older adults can have successful long-term outcomes from scoliosis and kyphosis surgery, although the risks are certainly higher in the older groups. It is always better to try to fix scoliosis and kyphosis when you are younger, and to get the best possible repair on the first surgery if needed.
There are some orthopaedic and even some neurosurgical and orthopaedic spine surgeons who tell patients that adult scoliosis is not fixable. This used to be true years ago, but is no longer true.
At Hey Clinic we treat both children and adults with spinal deformity (kyphosis and scoliosis) as well as other spinal conditions, including disc herniations, spondylolisthesis, fractures, and revision surgery.
We had recently seen her in clinic and gotten her “graduation” photo together.
Her note and photo are viewable above, and the note says:
“Dear Dr. Hey,
This is written to thank you and let you know how much I appreciate your expertise in surgical repair.
I am grateful for you and for my significant improvement.
Henry and I wish for you and your family continued blessings.
Sincerely,
Jane S_____
February 9, 2008”
Thank you, Jane for taking the time to write this note. It is an encouragement to me and the staff of Hey Clinic and Duke Raleigh Hospital where you had your surgery!
Lloyd A. Hey, MD MS
Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery
Raleigh, NC USA
http://www.heyclinic.com