Doctors and researchers from Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children are attending the 11th International Congress on Early Onset Scoliosis (ICEOS) meeting in San Diego, California. This annual conference brings together medical professionals who specialize in treating pediatric spinal deformities to discuss the latest research and innovations.

The Growing Spine Foundation (GSF), established in 2008, is a non-profit organization that supports education and research efforts to enhance the care and treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS) patients. The GSF educational mission is carried out through the annual ICEOS meeting as a commitment to finding new techniques to help this patient population. Several of Scottish Rite Hospital’s doctors are members of this group. Over the years, ICEOS has grown to be known as the premier medical conference for clinicians and researchers who are dedicated to researching innovative techniques to care for children with early onset scoliosis (EOS).

Members of GSF from the hospital include Assistant Chief of Staff Charles E. Johnston, M.D., Medical Director of Ambulatory Care Brandon A. Ramo, M.D., staff orthopedist Amy. L. McIntosh, M.D. and research coordinator Dong-Phuong Tran, M.S.

As a faculty member of ICEOS, Ramo understands the value this meeting brings to the overall care for patients diagnosed with EOS. “Early onset scoliosis can range from the common to the complex,” says Ramo. “The ICEOS meeting enables collaboration and focused discussions regarding this patient population to ultimately educate specialists on the latest treatment techniques to enhance the standard of care.”

This year, the hospital has several projects selected for presentation. In addition, staff are leading various educational sessions throughout the three-day meeting. The research projects selected include:

• Continued Deterioration in Pulmonary Function at Minimum 18-year Follow-up from Early Thoracic Fusion in non-Neuromuscular Scoliosis – Nominated for a Behrooz A. Akbarnia Award for Best Paper
• Short Term HRQoL Results in MCGR and TGR patients – Divergent from Long Term EOSQ Results in TGR Graduates

Scottish Rite Hospital is honored to have the opportunity to educate and share research with medical professionals from around the world. It is conferences like ICEOS that allows our doctors to have a farther reach to bring the best possible treatment back to our patients and children everywhere.