Successful Non-Fusion Spine Surgery and Custom Physical Therapy Regimen Helps Correct Logan’s Scoliosis
At first, the pediatrician didn’t seem too concerned. He thought Logan’s spine might be “a little off” due to recent growth spurts and recommended a spinal X-ray during his annual well visit.
“It was just to get a baseline the doctor said. But once we got the X-ray taken, it didn’t take someone with a medical degree to see the curve,” said his mom, Amy.
Logan, an active 16-year-old who played golf and tennis, was diagnosed with severe idiopathic scoliosis. He had a confirmed 47-degree curve in his spine. His parents, Amy and Matt, were shocked by his diagnosis and had many questions.
Ranging from the types of surgical options available to expected length of time for recovery, their questions also touched on a patient’s quality of life after surgery. But there was never a question as to where Logan would go for treatment.
“It’s the No. 1 children’s hospital in the United States. Why wouldn’t we go to Cincinnati Children’s? We’re lucky to live close to such an amazing hospital,” said Amy.
Finding the Right Surgery for Logan: Spinal Fusion vs. Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT)
In late summer of 2022, Logan and his parents came to Cincinnati Children’s and met pediatric orthopaedic surgeon Peter Sturm, MD, director of the Crawford Spine Center. Bracing was not considered a good option for Logan, given his age and the degree of his spinal curve. Instead, Dr. Sturm explained that at this stage, the most commonly performed procedure would be a spinal fusion surgery, which would permanently connect up to 10 or more vertebrae (bones in the spine) to correct the curve.