Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/822549
Over the years, Twin Cities Spine Center surgeons sought methods that would improve the treatment and recovery expe- rience for scoliosis patients, introducing growing rods and, most recently, utilizing magnet-driven grow th rods that help stretch the spine when bracing no longer works. In the 1990s, these surgeons were early adopters of pedicle screws, which a llowed them to rigidly attach to the spine so as to stabilize and realign the spine. Minimally invasive spine surgery techniques using screws and rods are now possible as well. With these advances and others, including using smaller surgical equipment and incisions, patients who undergo surgery for issues similar to Ms. Butler's are typically in the hospital for less than a week, and, frequently, for only three to four days. "Spine care has changed so much, cer- tainly from when I was a child, but even from when I started as a nurse here in the 1990s," Ms. Butler says. "The research we do at Twin Cities Spine Center and the communication that ta kes place with our colleag ues throughout the nation have allowed us to consistently deliver very high-quality, leading-edge services and care." BUILDING ON A STRONG FOUNDATION Research conducted by the first- and second-generation physicians of Twin Cities Spine Center has helped advance the practice to the point that 85 to 90 per- cent of their pediatric scoliosis patients now do not require surgery. " W hen surger y is required, we ca n now use i nter na l f i xation w it h ver y sma ll children, even in 2- or 3-year-olds, a nd t hose capabi lities ex tend to t he elderly, as well," says Joseph Perra, MD, Progra m Director of Or thopedic Spine Services at Gillette Children's Specia lty Hea lt hca re a nd su rgeon w it h T w i n Cities Spine Center. " We pride ourselves on being abreast of changes in technology and often get involved on the ground level with their development, because we see needs that we can help fill." Among those areas of need are addi- tiona l ca re options for patients with spinal conditions other than scoliosis. Twin Cities Spine Center treats spine issues ra ng ing from pinched ner ves, bone spurs, herniated discs and fractures to degenerative disc disease, tumors, kyphosis, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis and Scheuermann's disease. The team's inclusion of therapies to treat these condi- tions exemplifies its mission "to be an international leader in spine surgery by providing optimal patient care, publishing research that advances clinical practice, providing a leading U.S. training program and making lasting contributions to the f ield of spine surger y." This mea ns no facet of spine surger y is overlooked. In cases when discectomy or spina l f usion surger y is ultimately per formed, Twin Cities Spine Center patients have been found to have less pa i n a s wel l a s bet t er f u nc t ion a nd mobility tha n those from other centers in the state, according to outcomes data from Minnesota Community Measures. "Severa l of us have different a reas of subspecia lt y a nd interests in specia l popu lat ion s. W hen a pat ient w it h a ver y specia lized need a rrives, we ca n direct that patient to the best person to ta ke ca re of the problem," Dr. Perra says. "My mentor, Rober t Winter, MD, wa s one of the top t wo world ex per ts in congenita l scoliosis, so I continue to see a la rge population of people with congen ita l scoliosis. We a lso have a specia l expertise in skeleta l dysplasias, such as achondroplasia, or dwarfism, so we a re equipped to ha ndle the specia l medica l cha llenges people in this group face. Ensor Transfeldt, MD, is an expert in cer v ica l t horacic osteotom ies for a n k ylosi n g spondyl it i s a nd rel at ed conditions. This is one of the unique aspects of our g roup." Dr. Shafa chose to do his fellowship at Twin Cities Spine Center for both the vari- ety and leadership that Dr. Perra describes. Lisa Butler, RN and Manuel Pinto, MD, have worked together for 27 years. 0 8 0 8C O V E R F E A T U R E