Patient Cases: Spinal Fusion

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 >

Mia is a young woman who came to us at 14 year old as a second opinion. She also had some back pain. She had her growth spurt ahead of her but already had a 54 degree curve. I recommended a posterior spinal fusion. She had a fusion from T4-L3 with plastic surgery closure.... MORE >

Omari was diagnosed at the age of 15 and came to Dr. Vitale for a second opinion in regards to his scoliosis curve that was already in a surgical range. He also had back pain and hip pain. He had a 94 degree curve preoperatively and underwent a posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation from T2 to the pelvis. This was ... MORE >

Isabella was ten years old when she first came to our office upon the recommendation of her pediatrician for suspected scoliosis. Isabella is very active playing tennis and soccer. Isabella clinically appeared to have slight asymmetries at her shoulder and flank. Her X-rays showed curves measuring 29, 22, and 16 degrees. Upon discussion of natural history of scoliosis during rapid growth, ... MORE >

Margaret came to us as a second opinion at 16 years old. She was originally diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 5. She had an MRI that showed a chiari malformation and syrinx that required intervention by Dr. Neil Feldstein at Columbia.  She then wore a scoliosis brace for 10 years. She discontinued her brace at the end of ... MORE >

Ashley was 10 years old when she came to our office as a second opinion for left thigh pain. Ashley is very active in softball, tennis, and basketball, and the pain became consistent after sports. Upon review of her x-rays, Ashley was diagnoses with a grade IV spondylolisthesis. We performed a reduction of the spondylolisthesis in June, Ashley has near ... MORE >

We met Aiden when he was 3 years old for a second opinion in regards to his recently diagnosed scoliosis. He was already in a brace by the time we met him but his out of brace xrays showed a curve of 56 degrees that did not improve in the brace. He was also later diagnosed with underlying Marfan Syndrome ... MORE >

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, Selective Thoracic Posterior Spinal Fusion and Instrumentation, Pilates. This is a 22 year old who was diagnosed at the age of 10 and followed by another orthopedist. We met her as another opinion at the age of 22. She had curves of 54 and 36 proximal to distal. We recommended a posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation. She had ... MORE >

This 13-year-old girl had been diagnosed with scoliosis as a 12-year-old. She had been referred to Dr. Vitale’s clinic by her primary care physician. She had a major curve of 40 degrees. There was no family or past medical history, and she was a competitive diver. Upon physical exam: fluid, symmetric, age-appropriate gait. Hips heights were equal. Left shoulder was higher ... MORE >

This 10-year-old female with new Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis (JIS) diagnosis had been having back pain for about a year prior to the procedure, and it was getting worse. Upon physical exam, her shoulders and pelvis were level, and she had a fluid gait. Adams forward bend test showed right thoracic and a left lumbar paraspinal prominence. Kyphosis looked to be ... MORE >