This cool machine is made especially for kids with scoliosis. It gives the doctors a three-dimensional view of the back which makes diagnosis easier. The best part is that it exposes the kids to a fraction of the amount of radiation that a traditional x-ray does. Kids with scoliosis must have multiple x-rays throughout their lives so this aspect is very important.
Dr. Newton briefly went over what to expect from the surgery and answered all of our questions. He assured us that everything would be okay and he has a way of making me believe him. That really helps.
Dr. Newton, along with a group of other surgeons, have a study group dedicated to improving the treatment of spine deformities in children. It's called Setting Scoliosis Straight. Sydney agreed to participate in the study, so after we met with the doctor a representative came in and took pictures of Syd's back. They will continue to take pictures of her at her check ups and follow up with her for 25 years. The idea is to study the long-term effects of spinal surgery. I'm glad she agreed to participate because I think this is valuable information for both future patients and the doctors that are trying to better the treatment options.
On Monday, June 11, 2012 Sydney had to have some pre-op blood work done. This went smoothly because she had done it before and knew what to expect.
After that, she took a pulmonary function test. This involved her going in to a chamber and breathing in to a special devise. The tech measured her lung function based on how she performed the breathing tasks.
This concluded all of the pre-op appointments! We now had one full day before the surgery was finally here.
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