Re: Why not cast?

January 23, 2007

Because the " standard of care " (phrase Moriah's current ortho taught me) is to

wait and watch until the child needs surgery. Sometimes they brace, but they

just never think of correcting the curve, much less curing it, just maintaining

or managing it. They've been doing it for decades. Plus, they make more money

off of surgeries. Casting takes more work for them and pays them less money.

Add to that the fact that casting is relatively new and therefore a risk if you

are trying to establish a name or a practice for yourself in a given town, and

there you have it. Like I said, not many are gutsy enough, or care enough about

the kids to be a pioneer of a new treatment. Blunt, but true.

All we can do is respectfully make orthos aware of Early Treatment (casting)

and hope they are excited about it and willing to learn how to do it because

they see the benefits.

Shellie

Mohr <lisammohr@...> wrote:

I am new to this and just curious - A few of you have mentioned that

some doctors don't believe in the idea of casting - Why not?

---------------------------------

Don't be flakey. Get for Mobile and

always stay connected to friends.

January 23, 2007

I agree with what Shellie said. But also wanted to

add that many parents are not as dedicated to the

treatment options like casting that everyone here is.

Many parents want a one-time fix. If they have to do

anything with the treatment at home, they'd rather

not, especially if the doc is not supportive of the

treatment either. When you have a wishy-washy doc who

doesn't believe in this 100% and parents who don't

want to " hinder " or " restrict " their child's body for

any reason, then you have people voting against serial

casting. This works with parents of kids who have

clubfoot issues. Surgery is seen as a one-time fix.

Serial casting and years of leg braces to " fix " the

problem are seen as delaying the child's development

and as " torture " to the child (and parent). Braydon's

own ortho is not a supporter of casting for very many

cases because of this situation - he knows parents

won't take it seriously or that the child will be too

restricted in development. I'm just stating my

observation from over the years... one treatment

option is not right for everyone. That's the benefit

of having choices. What works for one may not work

for someone else.

Carmell

Mom to Kara, idiopathic scoliosis and hypothyroidism, Blake 16, GERD, and

Braydon 11, VACTERL-congenital scoliosis (fusion surgery 5/96), VEPTR patient

#137 (implant 8/01), Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome (TIS), rib anomalies,

missing coccyx, fatty filum/TC (released 4/99 & 12/06), anal stenosis, chronic

constipation, horseshoe (cross-fused) kidney, dbl ureter in left kidney,

ureterocele (excized 6/95), kidney reflux (reimplant surgery 1/97), neurogenic

bladder, dysplastic right leg w/right clubfoot with 8 toes (repaired 2/96, 3/96,

1/97, 3/04), tibial torsion, 4cm length discrepancy-wears 3cm lift, pes cavus,

SUA, GERD, Gastroparesis, etc. http://carmellb-ivil.tripod.com/myfamily/

Congenital scoliosis support group

CongenitalScoliosisSupport/

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Be a PS3 game guru.

Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Games.

http://videogames./platform?platform=120121

January 23, 2007

Early treatment by harnessing the childs rapid growth rate is a new concept in

the orthopaedic community. Everyone (docs & parents) have always seen scoliosis

as a condition that will naturally progress with growth. Dr. Mehtas recent

article sheds a whole new light on progressive, non structural scoliosis.

I think that scoliosis is a very complicated problem, and that some docs just

cant grasp the idea of something so simple, being able to correct this very

complicated condition.

Also, most docs are familiar with Risser casts, and casting (as a way to

maintain) severe curves. They dont understand the principles of early

treatment, and how by utilizing the childs growth, the little spine can learn

how to grow straight.

Thanks to the internet, we are seeing that progressive i.s. isnt as rare as

everyone once thought......Or, its on the rise...

And, with Dr. Mehtas new article and success stories, we can help educate the

docs and the rest of the world on the effectiveness of early treatment.

HRH

Why not cast?

I am new to this and just curious - A few of you have mentioned that

some doctors don't believe in the idea of casting - Why not?

January 23, 2007

Also didn't someone on here said that they asked their doctor about casting

and the doctor came back with " That's barbiac (sp?)to do on a child " ?

Betty

January 24, 2007

Yes Betty. I cant tell you how many times I have heard this. I believe that

the docs that say that casting is barbaric DO NOT understand the principles of

early treatment. They are only familiar with casting as a way to maintain a

curve, and cant imagine making a baby wear a cast/jacket until skeletal

maturity. The docs that say this need to read Mehtas recent article in the

Journal; of Bone & Joint 05, to see that its not barbaric...Its actually very

gentle, and effective, if done properly.

As you know, many on this group can attest to that.

HRH

RE: Why not cast?

Also didn't someone on here said that they asked their doctor about casting

and the doctor came back with " That's barbiac (sp?)to do on a child " ?

Betty

January 24, 2007

Unfortunately, in most all cases there is no such thing as a one-time-fix in the

world of scoliosis.

Serial casting is different from early treatment. Many docs use serial casting

as a way to halt, or prevent curves from getting out of control. Severe cases

of progressive infantile scoliosis, that never had a chance to be treated early,

must go back and forth between casts and braces, for many years, until skeletal

maturity. (this is serial casting)

If these progressive infantile cases would have had the opportunity to be

" treated early " with serial corrective plaster jackets/casts, (before age 2),

most would be straight, cast and brace free.

There should be no development issues if the jackets are applied early and

correctly. The child who recieves early treatment properly will pass all

milestones on time, and the series of jackets/casts will be temporary.

Thanks goodness for the internet. We can all educate ourselves, to make the

best choices for our children....Instead of someone making the choice for us.

My 2 cents...