Neal, back to kayaking and enjoying life again after spondylolisthesis surgery

I got back this week to doing spine surgery again after a nice week off last week, including some kayaking, and reconnecting to family.  So far this week we’ve done scoliosis and kyphosis surgeries on several patients, ranging in age from 11, 16, 17…. all the way up to age 67, who needed a complex anterior/posterior scoliosis and kyphosis reconstruction along with osteotomies and laminectomies!!    She was quite a “pretzel”, and really suffering bent over and to the side, and barely able to walk.

 We also helped a 26 yo woman from Fort Worth, TX who came here with painful spinal hardware put in about 12 years ago.  She is a very thin young lady, and the hook hardware was quite bulky.  Her hardware was removed, and had a robust fusion.  She heads back to Texas tomorrow.  One of our teenage kyphosis young ladies went home today about 2 inches taller and very happy with her new posture!  Our 11 yo patient is a “rock star” over at WakeMed Children’s Hospital walking the floors postop day 2, anxious to go home tomorrow.  Our summer research projects are going well with 3 summer interns working along, as well as many visitors / mentorees.  Never a dull moment.

We’ve also seen a bunch of second opinion consultations this week on children, adolescents and adults with scoliosis, to discuss whether or not to pursue scoliosis bracing, vs. alternative methods vs. surgery.

Our 17 yo scoliosis young man that we straightened up today did great and gave me a big “Thank You” this evening —  with about a dozen people in his room, including I believe half of his church youth group!

 I got a chance to meet all of them, pictured below, right after the surgery.  What a support group!  Apparently their friends and neighbors put up signs on this young man’s lawn yesterday to wish him well …. that is just awesome!