‘Sloppy’ doctor botched spine operation, disabling girl: suit

A renowned doctor who was once featured on the Discovery Channel botched a 13-year-old girl’s surgery so badly that she was left nearly blind and permanently disabled, a new Manhattan lawsuit charges.

Bethany Flanders went to Dr. Ohebena Boachi-Adjei at New York- Presbyterian Hospital in 2007 to correct her scoliosis but left permanently unable to walk and "almost totally blind."



Bethany Flanders, now 20, says she went to Dr. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei at the Hospital for Special Surgery in 2007, hoping he’d correct her scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that forced her into a wheelchair at times.

Instead, Boachie-Adjei performed a sloppy, rushed operation, leaving her “almost totally blind” and now permanently unable to walk, says her Manhattan Supreme Court suit.

“Bethany and her family put their absolute trust in the defendants here, and now a young woman has lost vision and is disabled forever,” their lawyer, Peter Johnson Jr., told The Post on Monday.

The doctor’s and hospital’s alleged mistakes included a failure to assure that Flanders was an appropriate candidate for the surgery, since she had nutritional and cardiac issues, Johnson said.

The lawyer said his client’s vital signs also weren’t properly monitored during the operation.

After Flanders developed scoliosis from a polio vaccine at age 1, her parents say they searched the country to find a surgeon who could straighten her spine as she got older.

They settled on Boachie-Adjei, who specializes in pediatric orthopedics.

The Columbia University-trained doctor was described as “arguably the world’s top surgeon of spinal deformities’’ in a plot summary of a 2006 episode featuring Boachie-Adjei on the Discovery Channel’s documentary series “Surgery Saved My Life.”

He closed his New York practice in June and returned to his native Ghana.

The Hospital for Special Surgery is a division of New York- Presbyterian Health Care System.

Boachie-Adjei did not return messages seeking comment. His former employer, New York-Presbyterian, also did not return messages.

Flanders, from the tiny town of Dallas in central Pennsylvania, is suing the hospital for unspecified damages.

Since the surgery, she suffers from blind spots and can’t see smaller objects such as her own foot, her lawyer said.

And while she studies biology at Misericordia University, her mother must still be her constant companion, driving her to class, taking notes during lectures and helping her perform basic functions throughout the day, Johnson said.


Source: New York Post, 1st Dec 2014

Rasterstereographic measurement of scoliotic deformity

Background

Back surface topography has gained acceptance in recent decades. At the same time, the motivation to use this technique has increased. From the view of the patient, the cosmetic aspect has played and still plays a major role as it provides a comprehensive documentation of cosmetic impairment. From the view of the medical practitioner, the aspect of reducing X-ray exposures in diagnosis and follow-up has been dominant and still prevails. Meanwhile, new aspects have emerged: due to the consequent three-dimensional view of the scoliotic condition, treatment success can be visualized convincingly. Clinical diagnosis is supported by information otherwise not supplied by X-rays, such as when functional examinations and diagnostic tests are recorded.

Track it from here:  

http://www.scoliosisjournal.com/content/9/1/22

Sloped Shoulders Related to Kyphosis, PE and a Fix

Sloped shoulders is very common among people with PE and is both a direct consequence of the kyphosis and the sunken sternum. The idea to help the upper back towards a correct position by using a clavicle support is well known today and I have even seen suggestions from doctors on the internet, that this can help mild cases of PE. But that is without the zero drop/barefoot shoes included! The effective combination; zero drop+clavicle support is a must to even be worth trying. So here I will give my hottest tip for a long time which I have tested myself for some time and it really has a good effect.

   1. Use zero drop shoes and no heavy clothes on the upper body.

   2. At the same time as point one; use a clavicle support to help correct the spine.

   3. Be physically active (stand up and walk) around two hours.

But as always: I don’t think that the more one uses it, the better it becomes. The body needs rest in between as with all form of physical training/stress. After all, you are going to physically correct your body quite dramatically so I use it just few hours a day (at least in the initial stage which I am into right now, zero drop I use constantly, the essential base of the whole thing).  

What does the clavicle support directly do?  

When the shoulders are held back in a natural position the muscles in the upper back will be activated so that they pushes the ribs in the direction of the sunken sternum, this will straighten the spine upwards and help further lift of the sternum.

I recommend to especially take a look on this post: “Nuss Procedure vs Do-it-Yourself-Procedure”. The clavicle support will help doing exactly what is described there.

(I will soon make a post about exercises on the gym which I have found beneficial for PE).



Source: Pectus excavatum revolution blog

Yoga pose for scoliosis patients

Scoliosis is defined as the lateral (sideways) curvature of the spine. It affects 5 to 7 million people in the United States. It can begin at any age, but it is most commonly found in adolescents.

In more than 80 percent of cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown or idiopathic. Functional scoliosis is often caused by some postural problem, muscle spasm, or leg-length inequality, which can often be addressed. Structural scoliosis does not reduce with postural maneuvers. Either type can be idiopathic or have an underlying cause such as trauma, neurological disease or tumors.

Patients with spinal curvatures often require an x-ray evaluation of the spine. The procedure helps determine the location and magnitude of the scoliosis, along with an underlying cause not evident on physical examination, other associated curvatures, and the health of other organ systems that might be affected by the scoliosis.


Spinal manipulation, therapeutic exercise, and electrical muscle stimulation have been advocated in the treatment of scoliosis. For patients with back pain along with the scoliosis, manipulation and exercise may be of help.


A recent research study in Global Advances in Health and Medicine, September 2014 has shown that performing a single yoga pose for 90 seconds three times a week may reduce spine curvature in patients with scoliosis in as little as three months. Scoliosis patients who did the side plank pose on the side their spine was curved toward experienced a significant improvement in their spinal curvature. Researchers found that spinal curvature improved by about 32 percent in all patients and it improved by 40.9 percent for the patients who performed the pose for at least three days a week. Among these patients, adolescents saw a 49.6 percent improvement in curvature, while adults saw a 38.4 percent improvement. The authors of the study conclude that asymmetrically strengthening the convex side of the primary scoliosis curvature with a side plank exercise performed daily appears to reduce curvature.


Most people with scoliosis lead normal, happy, and productive lives. Yoga (specifically the side plank) is generally well-tolerated and definitely worth adding as a daily exercise.



For more information, contact:

Dr. Wendy at haydenhealth@gmail.com. 


Source: CDA Press, 3rd Dec 2014

8 board members for the Scoliosis Research Society 2014-2015

The Scoliosis Research Society named the 2014 to 2015 board of director members, according to an AAOS Now report.

The new members are:

1. President — John P. Dormans, MD, former chief of division of orthopedics at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia

2. President-elect — David W. Polly Jr., MD, chief of spine surgery at the University of Minnesota

3. Vice president — Kenneth M.C. Cheung, MD, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital

4. Treasurer — Paul D. Sponseller, MD, chief of the division of pediatric orthopedics at Johns Hopkins Children's Center

5. Secretary — Mark Weidenbaum, MD, Columbia Orthopaedics

6. Treasurer-elect — J. Abbott Byrd, MD, Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists

7. Past president I — Steven D. Glassman, MD, Norton Spine Care

8. Past president II — Kamal N. Ibrahim, MD, Advocat Good Samaritan

The directors at large are:

• Ahmet Alanay, MD
• Laurel C. Blakemore, MD
• Manish C. Gupta, MD
• Baron S. Lonner, MD
• Praveen V. Mummaneni, MD
• Stefan Parent, MD, PhD

Additional leaders are:

1. Frank J. Schwab, MD — Research council chair
2. Daniel J. Sucato, MD — Education council chair
3. John R. Dimar II, MD — Education council chair-elect


Source: Beckers Spine , 17th Dec 2014

Does scoliosis surgery improve quality of life? 5 key notes

A study recently published in the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques examined quality of life for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients before and after surgery.

The study authors examined 33 patients who underwent surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The average age was 15.6 years old and average Cobb angle was 70.5 degrees. The patients were placed in two groups randomly, either receiving a hybrid procedure or pedicle screws alone.

The researchers found:

1. The results for SRS-30 and SF-36 significantly improved after surgery. The biggest changes were in the self-image and satisfaction with management domains of the SRS-30 survey.

2. The SRS-30 and SF-36 scores showed worsening pain and decreased function at three months after surgery. However, by 12 months after surgery the patients reported significant improvement from baseline.

3. The total SRS-30 scores were significantly improved at six months and 12 months after surgery.

4. Six and 12 months after surgery, sub-scores in these SF-36 areas were significantly improved:

• General health

• Vitality

• Social functioning domains

5. The curve magnitude, percent curve correction and instrumentation used did not have a significant influence over the SRS-30 or SF-36 scores.

"Surgical treatment of AIS improved patient quality of life, as shown by significant improvement on all SRS-30 and SF-36 domains," concluded the study authors.



Source : Beckers Spine Review , 21st Nov 2014

Woman forced to give up sport due to twisted spine braves jaguars, piranhas and poisonous snakes in 250-mile Jungle Run

• At age 14 Jennifer Adair was diagnosed with double scoliosis
  
• Her spine was curved into an S-shape, leaving her needing daily painkillers
  
• She wore a back brace, and was forced to give up sport altogether
  
• Last December she underwent surgery to correct the curve
  
• Six months later doctors gave her the all clear to run the Jungle Run
  
• The race saw her traverse South American mountains and the Amazon
  
• She came 38th out of 51 in the 250 mile race, braving all sorts of wildlife
   

As a teenager, Jennifer Adair swallowed a handful of painkillers every day to deal with crippling back pain.

Diagnosed with scoliosis at age 14, her curved spine put increased pressure on the heart and lungs and left her in agony.

She was told not to take part in sporting activities for fear of aggravating her back.

Now, thanks to surgery, the 34-year-old has been chased by jaguars and stung by wasps after completing a gruelling 250-mile Jungle Marathon.

Ms Adair, from Manchester, traversed across South American mountains and the Amazon rainforest as part of the week-long endurance race.

As a teenager Jennifer Adair took a daily dose of painkillers due to painful spine condition scoliosis. She had to give up sport. But at age 34, she braved jaguars, snakes and wasps to finish a the 250-mile Jungle Run

 Ms Adair spent a week traversing the South American mountains and the Amazon to come 38th out of 51 runners (pictured left and right during the race)

Six months after her surgery, Ms Adair was given the all clear to take on the challenge. As part of the race she was stung by 15 wasps, causing her face to swell. She is pictured here in the jungle

She finished an impressive 38th out of 51 runners - despite her condition, which often leaves her in great pain.

Diagnosed with double scoliosis, meaning her spine is curved into an S-shape, as a teenager she was given a back brace to deal with the pain.

She was forced to give up sport in case it aggravated her back, and only reintroduced gentle exercise in her late 20's.

In December last year she decided to have surgery to correct the curve.

Although she had been active as a teen as participated in races as an adult, she didn't know if the pain of a tough marathon would be too much.

But just six months after her surgery, she was given the all clear to take on the challenge.

Working as a brand manager for Tommy Hilfiger, she swapped her mirror and make-up for a backpack, braving piranhas, poisonous snakes and jaguars.

Ms Adair said: 'It was hell. It was amazing and really hard at the same time.

At age 14, Ms Adair was diagnosed with scoliosis (left) - meaning her spine was S-shaped. She wore a back brace and was told to give up sport. But last December she had an operation to correct the curvature (right)

The race was a week-long and Ms Adair is now working on a documentary called 'Breathe' about her exploits, which she hopes will raise awareness to her condition

At one point Ms Adair caught a mystery illness which left her unable to eat. She is pictured here in the jungle during her challenge

*******************************************************
WHAT IS SCOLIOSIS AND WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF THE CONDITION? 

Scoliosis is the abnormal curvature of the spine in an S-shape.

Signs include a visible curve in the spine, one shoulder or hip being more prominent than the other, clothes not handing properly and back pain.

Pain usually only affects adults with the condition.

In most cases, the cause of the scoliosis is not known but it can be caused by cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy.

In the UK, scoliosis affects three to four children could of every 1,000.

It is also thought that as many as 70 per cent of over 65s have some degree of scoliosis.

It is more common in women than in men.

Most children with the condition do not require treatment as it is mild and corrects itself as the child grows.

However, in severe cases the child may need to wear a back brace until they stop growing.

Occasionally, a child needs surgery to straighten their spine.

In adults, it is usually too late to treat the condition with a back brace or surgery so treatment revolves around reducing pain.

*******************************************************

'I wanted a challenge but the challenge I got wasn't the one I was expecting.'

She stormed through stage one, an area dubbed 'jaguar alley', in eighth-place overall.

But while the big cats made her swallow her heart in fear, it was an attack by wasps that stung the most.

She was hit by the insects 15 times, causing her face to swell

One runner almost died from an allergic reaction, but miraculously still managed to complete the race.

Ms Adair said: 'You could hear the jaguars in the trees and you could smell them.

'One got very close to me and the first time I heard one growl I nearly swallowed my heart.

'But the wasps attacked just half an hour into the race and my cheek swelled up so much that I could see it.'

She was also struck down by a mystery illness that left her delirious and forced her to go two days without food, a particularly dangerous situation when braving super-humid conditions.

'My back was really sore on the second day and my condition means puts pressure on my lungs so I couldn't breathe,' she said.

'But by the next day I had too many other problems to feel it.'

Ms Adair is now working on a documentary called 'Breathe' about her exploits, which is set to be released for free in the next six months in a bid to raise awareness of the condition.



Source : Daily Mail - UK , 20th Nov 2014