Early onset scoliosis is very different from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis — almost the opposite in many respects, according to Joshua W. Meier, M.D., pediatric orthopedic surgeon with Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis doesn’t develop until after age 10 or so. “Usually, these kids that you…
Bracing can significantly decrease the progression of idiopathic adolescent scoliosis and can prevent the need for surgery in teenage patients who wear the brace for 16 to 18 hours a day, according to an orthopedic surgeon at Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. “Bracing is appropriate if the scoliosis…
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have the potential to hasten recovery from lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative spine conditions, with reduced in-hospital opioid consumption and improved postoperative pain scores, according to a study published recently in Global Spine Journal. ERAS, which includes preoperative counseling, nutritional and medical optimization, standardized pain management and anesthesia, and…
On the third Wednesday of each month, a team of specialists from across Norton Children’s come together to provide multidisciplinary care to kids with spina bifida (SB). Since 2016, the Norton Children’s Spina Bifida Clinic — in coordination with the Kentucky Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs — has provided a care model…
Five years after complex adult spinal deformity surgery, patients reported durable improvement in a range of measurable outcomes, according to a recently published study. Patients reported improvements in lower-back pain functionality (Oswestry Disability Index), overall health (SF-36 physical and mental health scores), health-related quality of life (Scoliosis Research Society – 22R) and back and leg…
In-hospital consumption of opioids after elective spine surgery is driven chiefly by age, previous opioid use, smoking and the number of levels fused, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Spine Surgery. With as many as 38% of patients nationally still on opioids one year after elective spine surgery, the researchers sought…
Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, has created multidisciplinary clinics so children with spina bifida — and children with other complicated conditions — can see all subspecialists in one place during a single two- or three-hour visit. A child with spina bifida needs care from a number of specialists. As…
Norton Healthcare has expanded access to specialty care in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Providers specializing in cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, spine, sports medicine, rheumatology and vascular surgery have schedules in Hardin County offices. The expanded services mean patients from Elizabethtown and the surrounding area don’t need to travel to Louisville to get Norton Healthcare specialty care….
Hall of Fame horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas endured pain and weakness in his leg, foot and hip, from lumbar spinal stenosis, for years before seeing Jeffrey L. Gum, M.D., orthopedic spine surgeon with Norton Leatherman Spine. Dr. Gum initially managed the trainer’s spine issues with injections. “He always had the next big race to…
A combination of telehealth and remote monitoring is allowing some patients to go home sooner after significant spinal surgery, according to the medical director of Norton Leatherman Spine. Norton Telehealth and “virtual hospital” innovations accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic so patients can get care while practicing social distancing. The shift prompted Steven D. Glassman, M.D.,…
Steven D. Glassman, M.D., orthopedic spine surgeon with at Norton Leatherman Spine, has authored the two most frequently cited articles on spinal deformity, according to a long-term analysis published in the journal Spine. The analysis listed the 100 top-cited articles on spinal deformities on record. Two articles by Dr. Glassman, each published in 2005, led…
“Text neck” describes the repeated stress or pain in the neck resulting from constantly looking down — either watching or texting — on a handheld device for an extended time. Symptoms include nagging or sharp pain in the neck or shoulders; general shoulder pain and tightness; and headaches, which are made worse when looking down or using a phone or…