Patient Cases: Spinal Fusion

This is a 19 year old teenage girl who has syndromic scoliosis secondary to familial dysautonomia. She was first diagnosed with familial dysautonomia at the age of 3. She first saw Dr. Vitale when she was 11 years old. At first visit,  she had a thoracic curve of 37 degrees and so a brace was prescribed for her. However, her ... MORE >

This is a 14 year old boy who was diagnosed with neuromuscular scoliosis secondary to GMFCS IV Cerebral Palsy. At baseline, he uses a motorized wheelchair to ambulate. He has been followed by Dr. Vitale since he was 10 years old. At that time, he had a 20 degree lumbar curve. Therefore, he was at first treated with a brace. ... MORE >

This is a 16-year-old who was born with a condition called congenital scoliosis, which means he had abnormalities in his spine that caused it to curve. In addition to his scoliosis, he also had significant issues with the vessels and valves of his heart that eventually caused it to start failing. To fix his heart condition, he underwent a complete ... MORE >

Gabriella is a 14 year old who we met for the first time when she was 13. At that first visit, she was diagnosed with neuromuscular scoliosis with a 62 degree lumbar curve. Dr. Vitale recommended a posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation. Her underlying diagnosis is cerebral palsy with seizures and has a trach and a gtube. She underwent a ... MORE >

This is a 17-year-old who was born with a condition called spina bifida (myelomingocele). This can cause problems with walking, bladder control, and other functions. Because of this condition, she developed scoliosis around the age of 2 ½ years old. This type of scoliosis is classified as “neuromuscular” because it is primarily caused by imbalances in nerve control (neuro) and ... MORE >

Chloe is an 11 year old who was diagnosed with neuromuscular scoliosis at the age of 9.  She has an underlying diagnosis of VRK-1 mutation. At the time of scoliosis diagnosis, she had a 30 degree thoracic curve. At baseline, she ambulates at home with a walker and uses a motorized wheelchair outsider her home. She first came to Dr. ... MORE >

This is a 12 year old who had prior spine surgeries abroad that consisted of hemivertebrectomy, short fusion and insertion of a VEPTR. She proceeded to have multiple lengthenings overseas. She also had a VSD that was repaired, DDH that required an open reduction of the hip and a horseshoe kidney. She came to New York for another opinion, and they ... MORE >

This is a 12 year old whom I met when she was 7 years old. At that time, she had a curves measuring 26 and 21 proximal to distal. We recommended Schroth physical therapy. When she started hitting her growth spurt her curve progressed to the 30 degree range. She started bracing along with the Schroth. She had trouble with full ... MORE >

Jack came to us as a second opinion at the age of 9. He had recently been diagnosed but wanted another opinion. He had 21 and 20 degree curves at that time. He started with Schroth physical therapy and did great with this. A year later his curve progressed and he was prescribed a Rigo Cheneau N brace which is a ... MORE >

Patient was a 9 year old when she presented to us but the pediatrician had noticed the scoliosis a few years prior. Her older sister was also a patient of ours who had spondylolisthesis that required surgery followed by a 2nd stage posterior spinal fusion for her scoliosis. Patient presented to us with a surgical curve but because of her ... MORE >