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5 Common Questions About Limb Lengthening

5 Common Questions About Limb Lengthening

by | Apr 6, 2022 | Limb Lengthening

At Scottish Rite for Children, the Center for Excellence in Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction includes a multidisciplinary team of experts who collaborate to determine the best treatment plan for each patient. We know there are a lot of questions if your child begins treatment for their limb length discrepancy. Below are the most commonly asked and the answers from our team. 

Do I Have to Have Surgery?

If the difference between the lengths of your limbs is significant (more than 1 inch), surgery may help to prevent problems in the future. For small limb length differences (1-2 inches), sometimes a small surgery (an epiphysiodesis) that slows down the growth of the long leg and allows the shorter leg to grow and catch up is all that is needed. For bigger limb length differences, lengthening the short leg is needed. There are different techniques for lengthening a leg, including lengthening rods that are placed inside the bone or an external fixator, an advanced device developed at Scottish Rite for Children that is around your leg and attached to your bone. The type of device used is frequently determined by the cause of your leg length difference. The Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction team will explain the best technique for you. Both techniques lengthen the bone very slowly over several weeks. 

How Does the Limb-Lengthening Device Work?

When using the lengthening rod, the doctors separate the bone in your shorter limb and insert the rod inside the bone. The rod will be secured to the bone at each end of the rod. After surgery, you will use a device that rests on your leg to activate the rod to slowly lengthen and separate the bone a little bit each day.  

The external fixator, the TL Hex External Fixator System, has rods that are attached to each side of the separated bone. These rods are connected to rings attached to the outside of your limb. Every day, you will turn struts that connect the rings and cause the rings and the bone to slowly separate and lengthen. The frame will support your limb while the rods help the bone to grow. 

Will Limb Lengthening Hurt?

During surgery, you’ll be under anesthesia, so you won’t feel a thing. Whether you use the lengthening rod inside the bone or the external fixator, there is soreness as the bone and muscles lengthen. Your doctor will be able to give you medication to minimize the pain. In addition, Scottish Rite for Children has pediatric psychologists who will teach you other ways to manage your pain.

How Long Will Lengthening Take?

The amount of time you will need to wear the frame will be determined by how much your limb needs to grow. Regardless of the technique, for most patients, it takes six to nine months from the time of surgery to the time you are back to running and jumping. Most of the bone lengthening actually takes place in the first few months. After that, it takes time for the bone to fully heal and for you to get your full strength back.

When Can I Return To My Normal Activities?

After you spend a little time healing from your surgery, getting back to as normal a routine as possible is really important. Lengthening your leg and doing your daily exercises becomes part of your regular day. You will go back to school and participate in many of your typical activities. If you have a lengthening rod, you will not be able to put all of your weight on the leg being lengthened and will have to use crutches until the bone is almost completely healed. If you have an external fixator, the frame will support your whole body weight and after a few weeks you won’t need crutches. While you are lengthening your leg, you will visit the doctor every week, but once the lengthening is completed, you will only need to visit monthly.

A Backpack for Your Brace

A Backpack for Your Brace

by | Nov 11, 2021 | Spotlight

When Jennifer Pruitt’s daughter Eva was diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and prescribed a brace, it sparked an idea that has now become a real-life solution for other Scottish Rite families starting their journey with scoliosis bracing.   Compelled to help her daughter, Jennifer asked a seamstress friend to make Eva a couple of specially designed backpacks to use for school and athletics. “I saw what my daughter was going through,” Jennifer says. “So many people asking her what the brace was. It was a worry for her, and she felt different.”   This new bag would later become the Evee Pac™, a wide-mouthed, drawstring-closure backpack that totes a scoliosis brace in style. The bright green Evee rolls up and collapses into a zippered pouch when not in use.   While finalizing production details, Jennifer’s son, Andy, was diagnosed with AIS and prescribed a brace just like his sister, but now he was able to use the Evee. “It was way easier, and I don’t have as much attention whenever you are just carrying another bag,” Andy says.   Development officer Mike Stimpson and Don Virostek, Eva and Andy’s orthotist and director of Orthotics at Scottish Rite, provided feedback and support about the backpack anytime Jennifer needed it. Now Scottish Rite orthotists provide the Evee to any patients receiving a new brace.   “The generous funding from the Cardinal Foundation of Dayton, Ohio, the creative design work of Halo Branded Solutions and, of course, Jennifer’s commitment and passion for our mission made the backpack a reality for our patients, and we are very grateful,“ Vice President of Development Stephanie Brigger says.   “Scottish Rite is all about the well-being of its patients,” Jennifer says. “They were so wonderful to be open to and support the backpack project. In the end, these backpacks aim to make kids’ lives a little easier, and that’s really what it’s all about.” Read the full issue.
Share Your Story: Hole in One

Share Your Story: Hole in One

by | Sep 22, 2021 | Pediatric Developmental Disabilities

Meet Emme, a patient who is treated by our multidisciplinary team of experts.

Blog written by Emme’s mother, Olivia.

On the day Emme was born, I thought she looked absolutely perfect, just like a tiny doll. The next morning, our pediatrician came to check on her and asked if we had noticed the dimple on Emme’s lower back. He suspected she had a tethered spinal cord and sent Emme for some additional imaging.

We were shocked and not exactly sure what was happening. We ended up staying in the hospital for a couple additional days to run these tests. We are super thankful to live in a city that has access to such wonderful doctors. Emme was seen by a pediatric neurosurgeon, and we learned that she indeed had a tethered spinal cord. When we learned about the possible effects of this condition being left untreated, we know that we would move forward with her surgery.

I will never forget that as my little 6-month old was being wheeled back into surgery, she waved to us. Her spinal cord was able to be untethered, and the surgery was successful! From that point on, we called Emme our Tough Princess Girl!

As Emme grew, we found it difficult to find properly fitting shoes. We had also been noticing a difference in size with her feet and legs. Our pediatric neurosurgeon suggested we make an appointment at Scottish Rite for Children for Emme to see Dr. Adams in the spina bifida clinic.

Scottish Rite has provided so much support and in ways we could have never imagined! Emme has regular checkups with Dr. Adams. We are able to monitor the progression of a possible curve in her spine, and there are even experts help to ensure that her shoes fit her properly. Emme looks forward to her visits at Scottish Rite.

She has always been sporty and jumped at the chance to be a member of the Scottish Rite PGA Jr. League Team. Scottish Rite has played a key part in Emme’s confident and positive attitude. Not only does she love golf, but she also loves to tell people about how Scottish Rite has helped her!

This weekend, the United States will take on Europe in the Ryder Cup golf competition. Be on the lookout for Emme, as some of the Whistling Straits golf course signage will feature her participation on the Scottish Rite PGA Jr. League Team.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? WE WANT TO HEAR IT! SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US.

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The Scottish Rite PGA Jr. League Team is an inclusive program, with the PGA Jr. League. Using adaptive equipment, one-on-one coaching and peer support, children like Emme learn new sport-specific skills and build self-confidence. Watch to learn more about the PGA Jr. League’s newest team!

Share Your Story: Hole in One

Share Your Story: Hole in One

by | Jun 2, 2020 | Scoliosis & Spine, Uncategorized

Meet Phoebe, a patient seen by our spine experts. Learn more about her journey below.

Blog written by Phoebe’s mom, Victoria of Rockwall, TX.

When Phoebe was in sixth grade, she had her annual pediatrician visit and that was when our doctor first recommended further evaluation of her back. Phoebe’s shoulders were uneven, and she appeared to have an abnormal spinal curve. Our pediatrician recommended that we go to Scottish Rite for Children.

Phoebe became Dr. McIntosh’s patient and due to the degree of curvature in Phoebe’s spine, a scoliosis back brace was highly recommended and necessary to stop the progression of the curve. As a mother of a beautiful, young and active daughter, the news was a hard pill to swallow. We were very nervous and afraid of how the brace was going to impact our daughter’s lifestyle. Dr. McIntosh was very understanding and thorough, answered all our questions and made us, especially Phoebe, feel comfortable.

Dr. McIntosh is an expert and we felt confident that our daughter was in great hands.

That same day, we met with Kelsey in the Prosthetics department. She took measurements and designed Phoebe’s back brace. Phoebe loved all the staff and doctors but felt a special connection with Kelsey. She was funny, young at heart and spent a lot of time with Phoebe during the brace adjustments.

At that time, Phoebe was 11 years old and about to transition from elementary to middle school. It was hard to see her wear a thick plastic brace during the hot 100+ degree weather. Phoebe has always been tough, and she rarely complained. She didn’t like the brace, but she knew that it was the only option to stop the curvature progression. Many times, she would even wear it for more than the 20 hours a day that was recommended. She started with a 19-degree curvature and at the end of the process, she was at a 17-degree curvature, which was great.

As a family, we did different activities together and allowed Phoebe to try many different sports. Phoebe was able to play soccer and basketball, run track, and even participated in cheerleading – all throughout her bracing process. Dana Dempsey, the Scottish Rite Director of Therapeutic Recreation, invited us to participate in a Learn to Golf clinic. It was at this clinic when Phoebe decided to try golf and she fell in love with the sport! Through the years, she has participated in several different Learn to Golf clinics and is now on the varsity golf team at her high school. She even made the varsity team as a freshman!

We are beyond grateful for all of the staff and volunteers at Scottish Rite. Phoebe’s scoliosis experience was much brighter due to the care and love she felt, and we strongly recommend Scottish Rite to anyone else that may be going down this path.

Learn more about Phoebe’s Story and see how Learn to Golf changed her life. Click here.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? WE WANT TO HEAR IT! SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US.

1968-2018: Celebrating 50 Years Since the First Consensus Definition of Dyslexia

1968-2018: Celebrating 50 Years Since the First Consensus Definition of Dyslexia

by | Apr 5, 2018 | General News

Over 50 years ago, the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia & Learning Disorders was established to provide treatment and guidance to children with learning disorders. 

This week, the hospital is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the World Federation of Neurology’s meeting which formulated the first consensus definition of Dyslexia. In April of 1968, the first meeting of the World Federation of Neurology’s Research Group on Developmental Dyslexia and World Illiteracy took place at Scottish Rite Hospital. Below is the definition that was approved by the group in 1968:

Specific Development Dyslexia
A disorder manifested by difficulty in learning to ready despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence, and socio-cultural opportunity. It is dependent upon fundamental cognitive disabilities which are frequently of constitutional origin. 

Throughout the decades, the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia & Learning Disorders has grown to become the premier learning facility for both children diagnosed with a learning disorder and therapists in training. Director of the Center Gladys Kolenovsky, has witnessed the impact this group of experts has made on this patient population. “Since the beginning, we have been dedicated to giving children with dyslexia the tools and confidence to be successful both in school and in life,” says Kolenvosky. “As we embark on this 50-year milestone, it gives us a moment to reflect and give thanks to the group who gathered to define dyslexia and from that day has enhanced the care for these children.” 

Learn more about the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia & Learning Disorders Center.