Scoliosis Care at Shriners Children's Philadelphia

Amer F. Samdani, M.D., Chief of Surgery, Neurosurgeon:

When we look at our spine care, I'd say the number one factor that differentiates us from other institutions is we have an umbrella of care. When a child comes in with scoliosis or curvature in their spine, they're able to see the wide spectrum of different healthcare providers in that one single visit.

Josh Pahys, M.D., Pediatric Spine Surgeon:

At Shriners Children's, we have orthopedic spine surgeons, we have neurosurgeons. We all work together, take care of kids, and draw from both fields of expertise. The medical team here, the orthotist team here, the physical therapy team here, is at the top of their field. I think all of us are presenting at national or international meetings. We're publishing data that's changing the way that other centers around the country, around the world are taking care of patients. It's exciting to be a part of that.

Amer F. Samdani:

The standard of care for patients with scoliosis for the past 50 years has been a spinal fusion, but now patients have another option. We pioneered at our hospital and worked with the FDA in 2019 to get FDA approval for a non-fusion related treatment for these children called vertebral body tethering.

Steve Hwang, M.D., Neurosurgeon, Pediatric Spine Surgeon:

Vertebral body tethering is an innovative way to treat scoliosis. We make smaller incisions, put a screw into the vertebral body, which is the bigger part of the spine, and put an anchor that tethers kind of a rope that has a little bit of tension on it. That allows us to apply a force on one side of the spine so we can actually correct the scoliosis, allowing the child's growth to help correct the curve over time as well.

You want to identify the ideal time to perform that surgery if it's necessary to optimize the outcomes in kids.

Josh Pahys:

Everybody that's involved in that is really embodies the mission of the Shriners. They all come here every morning and leave every night with the same goal in mind is to take care of the patient and the family and it's one of the reasons why all of us come here and love working here is the team effort, the family effort that we put into it that I think really sets us apart.

Amer F. Samdani:

The most important thing is we are going to be by your side. Combine that with cutting-edge technology, with an environment that fosters patient-centered care, where patients truly feel that they're part of a larger family is what sets us apart.

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