Leigh Murphy suffered hip pain on and off for years before having surgery to correct scoliosis. “My left hip was higher up than my right one and was quite noticeable in a bathing suit or form-fitting skirt,” she said. “My hip pain started in middle school. It was a really sharp stabbing pain. Later on, when I would come home from high school, I would lie down on the floor in an effort to relieve the pain.”
Pediatric orthopaedic surgeon John Frino, M.D., met with Leigh to address her back pain and see if she could be helped with surgery. “Many patients suffering from scoliosis can be treated by using a back brace,” he said. “But some patients with more severe curvatures require surgery.” Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine which can worsen during periods of rapid growth. Patients with scoliosis may appear deformed; for example, one hip or shoulder might appear higher than the other.
Frino says patients with less than a 40-degree curvature and growth remaining can opt to wear a back brace. “We really strive to make braces functional and easily wearable by patients,” he said. “Usually a teenager will have to remain in his or her back brace until their growth periods have ceased, which is usually by age 14 for girls and 16 for boys.
“Teenagers or adults with a more than 50 percent curvature often require surgery,” said Frino. “The surgery is extensive and involves a five day stay in the hospital and a six-week recovery period. This is why I always encourage my patients to wear the back brace if possible.”
However, patients who undergo surgery often are walking within 24 hours without a back brace or cast.
“I was walking within a few days after surgery and was able to walk up my driveway the day I came home,” Murphy said. “I am extremely happy with my surgery. I knew I wanted it, and I had no second thoughts. I couldn’t be happier. I feel much more comfortable about my body and posture. I feel like my biggest flaw has been fixed.”
“It is very rewarding to see patients who were struggling with this problem regain their positive mental attitude and outlook about their appearance and their life,” Frino said. “The teenagers just feel better about themselves and that translates into their schoolwork and their after-school activities.”
For more information about scoliosis or pediatric orthopaedics at Brenner Children’s Hospital, call Health On-Call® or visit www. brennerchildrens.org. | 
“I feel much more comfortable about my body and posture,” said Leigh Murphy after surgery to correct scoliosis. Murphy, 19, is from Archdale, N.C.
| Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at Brenner Children’s
Brenner Children’s Hospital pediatric orthopaedic surgeons John Frino, M.D., and Andrew Koman, M.D., provide state-of-the-art treatments for scoliosis and spinal deformity, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, pediatric trauma, congenital deformities and sports medicine.
Multidisciplinary clinics combine the expertise of surgeons, rehabilitation specialists and other pediatric subspecialists to map out the best treatment plans for each child.
Experts at Brenner Children’s Hospital see patients with pre-arthritic hip conditions requiring pelvic and femoral surgeries, congenital hand deformities, nerve injuries and spasticity associated with cerebral palsy.
Special capabilities include limb-lengthening services to correct congenital deformities or traumatic injuries of extremities. Computer-assisted approaches in surgery ensure precision and accuracy. |
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