My son has just turned 15 years old. He has kyphosis (rounded back).
Orthopedic specialists normally put a brace on children with kyphosis
if they have not yet reached "skeletal maturity" to correct the
curvature of the spine as they grow. If they have reached skeletal
maturity they say it is too late for the brace to correct the
curvature of the spine. However, I was told by my son's back
specialist that there is a Doctor who has published studies reporting sucess in
correcting kyphosis by putting back braces on children even up to one
year AFTER they have reached skeletal maturity. My son's specialist
cannot remember the Doctor's name who has published the studies. My
son may have already reached skeletal maturity. Who is the specialist
who reports that bracing can help even if started up to one year AFTER
reaching skeletal maturity and where can I find his reports on the
internet? |
Request for Question Clarification by
pinkfreud-ga
on
01 Aug 2003 13:01 PDT
Has your son been diagnosed with a form of congenital kyphosis, or
does he have postural kyphosis? The more details you can provide, the
better we will be able to assist in researching your question.
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Clarification of Question by
mcddougal-ga
on
01 Aug 2003 15:26 PDT
My son does not have postural kyphosis. He has congenital kyphosis.
His T-11 and T-12 vertebre are wedged shape with the front of those
two vertebre being shorter than the back of those two vertebre which
accounts for the round back above those vertebre. His kyphosis is 60
degrees. Bracing pushes the back in and thereby reduces pressure on
the front of the vertebre which encourages the front to grow to the
same height as the back of the vertebre. That's why most doctors say
once skeletal maturity is reached bracing will not work. However,
apparently the doctor I am looking for has studies showing success in
bracing even after skeletal maturity. Please help me find his name
and his research.
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Request for Question Clarification by
pinkfreud-ga
on
01 Aug 2003 16:03 PDT
I have found the name of an orthopedist who has a major practice in
surgery for adult spinal deformity.
Here's some info on Dr. Alexis Shelokov, the medical director of
Consulting Orthopedists (in Plano, Texas):
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=2510
http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=4584
http://www.consultingorthopedists.com/shelokov/shelokov.htm
========================================
Here is an interesting article about adult bracing:
http://www.curvemenders.homestead.com/AdultBracing.html
From the same site, info on Dr. Ed Cleere, whose oldest patient was
age 60:
http://www.curvemenders.homestead.com/Doctor.html
========================================
If one of these physicians is of interest to you, I'll be glad to do
further research and post an official answer to your question. It is,
of course, not possible for me to know whether either of these is the
doctor mentioned by your specialist.
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Clarification of Question by
mcddougal-ga
on
01 Aug 2003 17:35 PDT
Identifying the name of the Doctor that my son's specialist was
referring to might be impossible and may not be that important. What
I really need is any modern research by orthopedic specialists which
supports the idea that kyphosis can be corrected by bracing even if
started after skeletal maturity has been reached. My son has possibly
reached skeletal maturity and if I am going to have him put in a brace
I must do it quickly as time is not on his side. Please help me and
him. Thank you.
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