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F OR A NUMBER of spine conditions, t i m i ng is t he ke y to t reat- ment. Scoliosis, for example, affects as many as 6 million Americans and is responsible for more than 600,000 physician visits annually, according to the National Scoliosis Foundation (NSF). While techniques for surgical corrections have significantly improved since the days of Harrington rods, invasive procedures can be pre- vented altogether by early referral to a neurosurgeon at Neurological Surgery, P.C. (NSPC) for close observation and possible preventive measures. "Pediatricians often note the presence of an abnormal spinal curvature and conduct customary X-rays to determine the magnitude of the deformity," says Zachariah M. George, MD, partner and neurosurgeon at NSPC. "Often, the curve progresses as children experience rapid growth spurts. This is an ideal time for referral. We'd like to follow any prepubescent child with spinal curvature of more than 10 degrees so we can intervene, if necessary, with bracing to prevent the need for surgery." The NSF estimates that 30,000 chil- dren require bracing each year, and as many as 38,000 require fusion surgery. Bracing is only effective before bones reach maturity, which occurs soon after the onset of puberty, according to Dr. George. Neurosurgeons may elect to brace and follow patients until spinal curves exceed 50 degrees, even when the patient is expected to experience more growth. Older patients often need surgical correction for scoliosis, says Artem Y. Vaynman, MD, FA ANS, partner and neurosurgeon at NSPC. "We see a lot of scoliosis in the aging population, and a recent study shows that as many as 68 percent of people 65 and older have approximately one to four degrees of scoliosis," he says. Brings Progressive Spine Surgery to Long Island WHEN IT COMES TO COMPLEX SPINE SURGERY, IT'S NOT ONLY THE NOVEL TREATMENT THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE, BUT KNOWING WHEN TO USE IT. AS ONE OF THE NEW YORK METRO AREA'S LEADING PRIVATE NEUROSURGICAL GROUPS, NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY, P.C. FEATURES AN EXPANSIVE ROSTER OF EXPERIENCED, ERUDITE SURGEONS. By Michael Ferguson Neurological Surgery, P.C. COV ER FE AT UR E Artem Y. Vaynman, MD, FAANS, partner and neurosurgeon, and Zachariah M. George, MD, partner and neurosurgeon with Neurological Surgery, P.C. (NSPC), review films of a scoliosis patient's imaging. 6 | Long Island MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M