Stem Cells for Scoliosis
POSTED: 7:25 am EDT May 13, 2008
Three to five children out of every 1,000 are diagnosed with
scoliosis -- a curvature of the spine that can have serious
consequences if the curvature gets worse. But now, there's a new,
less painful way to treat it.
At age 14, Matthew Barmore is already six-foot-one with a passion for
basketball. But just a few months ago, Matthew's doctor saw a
problem -- a nearly 50 degree curvature in his spine. The diagnosis:
scoliosis.
"Before surgery, the lump in his back caused by the spine curvature
was about the span of both my hands together," said Matthew's mother,
Rebecca Barmore.
"If the curve progresses, it can have profound affects on heart and
lung function," said Mark A. Flood, D.O., an orthopaedic spine
surgeon at Banner Desert Hospital in Mesa, Ariz.
Surgery to correct scoliosis used to mean cutting a large piece of
bone from the iliac crest in the pelvis, then using it to create a
spinal fusion so the curve didn't get worse.
"The problem with taking bone from the iliac crest is it's a
significant source of pain sometimes even permanent pain," Dr. Flood
said. "It requires another incision, potential risk of infection, and
that bone is gone forever."
But Matthew was able to take advantage of a brand new therapy --
recently cleared by the FDA -- to repair his spine using stem cells
harvested from his own bone marrow.
Used with bone from the Bone Bank, Matthew's stem cells would act as
a sort of catalyst to support the growth of new bone along the spine
and work with permanent screws and rods to fuse it into the correct
position. The surgery reduced Matthew's curvature from nearly 50
degrees to just 15 degrees.
Just three months after surgery, Matthew's already playing one-on-one
with twin brother Jordan, getting stronger every day.
"I'm able to shoot, dribble, run and jump," Matthew told Ivanhoe. "If
this is any indication of what's going to happen I think it will just
get better."
And now, Matthew's dreaming of a very big future. "What else? The
NBA!" Matthew said.
Scoliosis is much more common girls than boys. Ideopathic scoliosis --
scoliosis of unknown cause -- is the most common type, usually
occurring after age 10. Only some cases require surgery.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Center for Spinal Disorders and Pediatric Orthopedics
http://www.csdpo.
(480) 464-9400
Banner Health
http://www.bannerhe
http://www.news4jax
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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