← Back Chloe P. | Neuromuscular Scoliosis

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. Vitale a year and a half later at the age of 10. By then, her curve had grown to 70 degrees. That meant that surgery was needed to correct her curve as it had gotten too big for bracing to be effective. Due to her VRK-1 mutation, she required optimization of her medical comorbidities including the insertion of a gastric tube for feeding.

By the time she was cleared for surgery, her primary curve had grown to over 120 degrees! The plan was to first place a device called a halo which gently stretches and straightens a severe curve over several weeks before a fusion surgery permanently corrects the curve. She was in the hospital for four weeks with the traction and then had her spinal fusion.

She was then discharged to a rehabilitation center two weeks after surgery, and we saw her in the office a week later where we were happy to see she has been doing well!