Scoliosis has been a scourge of pediatric orthopedics for hundreds of years, but it wasn’t until recently that the full ebenfit of early detection could be measured. Now that we have better data, it seems likely that pediatricians and pediatric orthopedic specialists, will receive new guidance on the use of detection and bracing in young patients:
Early detection of scoliosis is mandatory in order to offer patients nonoperative methods to prevent progression of the condition. Nonoperative management is preferred by patients when there is a reasonable chance of success. Over two thirds of the patients in the patient preference arm of the BrAIST preferred bracing over observation. We can offer nonoperative treatment for idiopathic scoliosis only when detected in the mild to moderate stage, which is why early recognition and diagnosis is important,” Hresko told Spine Surgery Today.
It is an interesting dichotomy in pediatric orthopedics: some disorders demand a wait-and-see approach, while others demand the earliest possible intervention. In scoliosis, when bones are still growing, corrective measures can have a salutary effect down the line, not unlike braces for teeth.
Whether your child is suffering from a chronic orthopedic condition or an injury in need of expert treatment, we can help. Contact Dr. Bill Holland at the American Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center today.
