Reducing Postoperative Length of Stay for Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients using Quality Improvement Methodology.

Unlabelled: Approximately 1%-3% of the US population is diagnosed with scoliosis. In addition, 80% of those diagnosed have idiopathic scoliosis, with about 10% requiring surgical intervention. This Quality Improvement initiative aimed to reduce the length of stay (LOS) after posterior spinal fusion for these patients.

Evolving Surgical Management for Early-Onset Scoliosis in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 Given Improvements in Survival.

Case: We present a case of an 18-month-old child with early-onset scoliosis in the setting of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 whose rapidly progressive scoliosis is successfully managed with magnetic growing rods, the youngest age of implantation in a patient with SMA we are currently aware of. Technical challenges, complications, and outcome are described in this case presentation.

Conclusion: Patients with SMA type 1 and early-onset scoliosis can be managed with growing-rod constructs given dramatic improvements in medical care that have expanded life expectancy.

Creating a bowel management plan for pediatric orthopaedic spine surgery patients.

Purpose: Opioid-induced constipation is a common problem in patients who have undergone surgery. No standard gastrointestinal protocol exists to manage perioperative care in pediatric orthopaedic spinal fusion patients despite data which support the need for a bowel regimen while a patient is taking narcotics. At our institution, this group of patients often present to the emergency department with constipation and other gastrointestinal complaints.