Summer 2010 Issue

Patient Case Study
We Provided Straight Talk And Solutions For This Scoliosis Patient

At the age of 62, Mary Ann was an active wife and mother. Yet over the course of 12 months, she developed chronic low back and left leg pain that became progressively worse. She found it difficult to sit or stand for any period of time without severe pain. As an artist, the pain made it nearly impossible for Mary Ann to enjoy her craft. The pain did not respond to acupuncture, heat and ice treatments, or anti-inflammatory medications.  
 
“I first went to my orthopedist, but he explained that I needed a neurosurgeon,” said Mary Ann. “A friend recommended Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates.”
 
Mary Ann underwent an MRI, then she and her husband met with neurosurgeon Paul Kim, MD. Her imaging studies demonstrated a significant degenerative scoliotic deformity involving her lumbar spine with multilevel severe stenosis. “My vertebra were like Legos,” said Mary Ann. “I couldn’t believe I had scoliosis.”
 
Dr. Kim recommended a complex deformity-correcting operation with multilevel decompression to address her severe stenosis.  
 
“With each patient, you must make the determination of whether he or she will benefit more from a conservative approach, focused at treating a specific problem, or a more extensive operation that would address a multitude of problems,” said Dr. Kim. “That’s where patients benefit from that fact that our practice has surgeons who have expertise in both approaches to spine care.”
 
For Mary Ann, it was clear that she would require a more extensive approach. Dr. Kim felt she was in good physical condition, and would be able to tolerate an extensive 6-to-8 hour operation and lengthy 12-month recovery process.
 
Dr. Kim also felt that this procedure would enable Mary Ann to eventually return to her previous level of activity, including continuing with her artwork, and remain socially active. She decided to proceed with the recommended surgery, which was an extensive decompression and instrumented fusion with correction of her scoliotic deformity extending from T11 to her sacrum.
 
After surgery, Mary Ann was in the ICU and spent a total of 13 days in the hospital. Now, more than a year after her procedure, she has made an extraordinary recovery.
 
“Now I’m back to enjoying my art, my family and friends,” said Mary Ann, “everything in life I love the most!”
 
To learn more about scoliosis diagnosis and treatment, call 800-344-6716.
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