Young people helped at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough included 14-year-old Jodie Parke
Youngsters who have undergone surgery to correct curvature of the spine gathered to celebrate their success stories.
In 2010, the scoliosis service at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough was boosted with the appointment of two consultant spine surgeons.
And to mark the success of the past four years, staff invited dozens of young people whom the unit has helped.
They included 14-year-old Jodie Parke who had surgery to correct an abnormal curvature in November.
She
only became aware of a problem in May when her mum Julia Parke noticed
her right shoulder blade was more prominent than her left.
A trip to the doctor’s and subsequent referral to a specialist confirmed Jodie had developed teenage scoliosis.
“At first we thought we were being over-cautious,” said her mum.
“She had never had any problems before this, she’s very sporty and loves cricket and football.”
Jodie travelled from her home in Scarborough for the surgery performed by consultant spine surgeon Waleed Hekal. It involved the insertion of two metal rods in her spine and 17 pins.
The effects were instant.
“It will last for the rest of her life and other than check-ups she needs no further treatment,” said her mum.
“We couldn’t believe how straightforward it was and the care was fantastic. The whole system was like private healthcare.”
Yesterday’s event at the hospital gave patients like Jodie a chance to meet the team again and share their experiences.
Specialist nurse Cheryl Honeyman said: “The difference successful scoliosis surgery makes on a young person’s life is huge.
“I’ve seen patients change from shy, introverted, unhappy people to confident, outgoing, positive role models for others.
“The team we have here at South Tees has achieved outstanding results, with almost full correction of spinal curves up to 110 degrees, recovery as comfortable as possible and positive experiences of surgery and hospitalisation.”
The cause of scoliosis is often not identified but some cases are
caused by other medical conditions, including cerebral palsy and
muscular dystrophy.
Treatment is not always necessary for very young children with scoliosis because the condition often corrects itself as the child grows.
However, in older children and adults, it is unlikely that scoliosis will improve without treatment and in some cases the curvature may get progressively worse.
Source: Gazettlive, 23rd Dec 2014
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