Written By: Debjani Arora | Published : January 27, 2015 2:27 PM IST
It a one of its kind surgery, a seven year old girl gets a new lease of life after undergoing spine correction to rectify a congenital defect scoliosis, a rare but debilitating condition which results in misaligned and deformed spine. Know why youngsters suffer from spinal problems.
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a term used to describe a condition when the spine shows abnormal curves resulting in misaligned shoulder or increasing rib hump. This condition makes it difficult to lead a normal life making one prone to accidents. It also affects spine growth and leads to other health complications compromising the normal functioning of other organs. Here are five bad postures that can affect your health.
How is scoliosis treated?
This congenital defect affects the skeletal system of the body with a deformed or misaligned spine. However, early surgical interventions can help to achieve success with spine correction. Medical surgeries and procedures favours the young more than adults as the former s bones haven t matured yet and can be reconstructed without landing up into too many complications. In general scenario, spine correction requires six to seven procedures to correct the curvature and maintain spinal growth. Each of these surgeries carries a potential risk associated with anesthesia, blood loss, infection and above all mental trauma to children and parents. However, leading orthopedic pediatric surgeon Dr Ashok Johari used a revolutionary new surgical procedure to treat the little girl a method that would spare her the need for further surgical interventions. Know why prevention is better than cure when it comes to treating spinal disorders.
What was this revolutionary treatment like?
The revolutionary treatment or magnetic technology which is also referred to as MAGEC rods was opted to treat the seven year old. In this procedure, magnetic rods which are used in normal spinal surgery are implanted with a magnetic actuator to rectify the curvature. The benefit of this procedure is that once the rods are implanted along with the actuator subsequent lengthening can be managed from an external magnetic controller. This controller can be used by the physician during routine visits. Beware of that one bad habit that can worsen your lower back pain.
What is the advantage of the procedure over conventional surgeries?
The MAGEC procedure promises to provide total freedom from intermittent surgeries that s a necessity with conventional form of treatment for scoliosis. Also, the procedure is completely pain free and does not require anesthesia or even a pain killer. Children undergoing the procedure respond well to the surgery and can hope to spend normal lives like other children.
Image source: Getty Images
Note: Picture used for representational purpose only.
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