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    Pediatric scoliosis surgery without stiffening the spine performed in the University Children’s Clinical Hospital for the first time in Poland

    25.03.2019 15:34
    Author: Administrator UMB

     

    Orthopaedists from the Children’s Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic of the Medical University of Bialystok performed on March 25th, for the first time in Poland, the operation of correction of idiopathic child’s scoliosis, an innovative technique without stiffening the spine, the so-called VBT (Vertebral Body Tethering). In Europe, such treatments are performed only by 4 clinical centers. The surgery was performed by dr Paweł Grabala and dr Tomasz Guszczyn, assisted by world-renowned spinal surgeons from the USA, prof. Randalph Betz and dr. Daryla Antonacci from the Institute for Spine and Scoliosis (New Jersey), who developed this method.

    -Until now, surgical treatment of spinal deformation has resulted in stiffening of the spine, and this is connected with limiting the scope of its mobility - says prof. Anna Wasilewska, Director of the University Children's Clinical Hospital and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the MUB.

    This modern operating technique, used in the USA for several years, so far mainly on athletes, consists of mini invasive spine implantation, front access, a system of elastic bands, thanks to which we can correct curvature without causing stiffening of the operated spine. The advantage is an almost invisible scar and a quick return to full fitness and physical activity.

    - We will regularly expand the scope and increase the level of operations performed by us, in accordance with global standards- said dr Tomasz Guszczyn, head of the Orthopedic and Traumatology Clinic of MUB -We will try to perform this type of surgery using the technique of the least invasive, patient-friendly - thoracoscopic, which significantly limits the extent of surgery, the risk of bleeding and complications. Thanks tk that, patients can quickly return to full fitness.

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