Experiencing how spinal fusion treats scoliosis before surgery day

The Spinal Program at Boston Children’s Orthopedic Center has partnered with the Simulator Program to offer a unique simulation experience to patients who will undergo surgical treatment for scoliosis, a procedure called spinal fusion, this summer. “In my experience, patients do better when they are well prepared for surgery,” says Dr. Michael Glotzbecker, a pediatric spine specialist and surgeon at Boston Children’s Hospital, who performs dozens of spinal fusion surgeries each year to treat children with scoliosis. That’s why Glotzbecker teamed up with Brianna O’Connell, a child life specialist and program lead of simulation programs for patients and caregivers at the Boston Children’s SIMPeds Simulator Program, to create an immersive day for patients and their families to experience spinal fusion well ahead of surgery day. Spinal fusion: The most common surgical procedure for treating spinal problems combines fusion and instrumentation (rods and screws) to correct and solidify the curve. Learn more about spinal fusion and other scoliosis treatments. Many of the children and adolescents who attended the spinal fusion simulation, held in April 2017, have their surgeries scheduled for this summer, during their school break. The simulation included realistic set-ups of the pre-op, operating room, recovery room and inpatient hospital room as well as all the medical equipment and procedures that they will experience during their st...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Research and Innovation Michael Glotzbecker Orthopedic Center scoliosis Simulation Program spinal fusion surgery Source Type: news