Re: Initial Consultation with Dr. Stasikelis/Greenville Shriners

[Guest guest]

Yes.

We were told there is always a VERY small risk of neurological

response or a spinal cord injury - if they pushed too hard, broke the

vertebrae and it severed the spinal cord, I suppose in a very random

freak way it could happen.

However, I'm sure that the benefits far outweigh the risks in this

situation - we know that Jack's curve was so large that it was

compressing his organs (especially the heart and lungs) and left

untreated it decreased life expectancy by 20-30 years.

We decided that the very small risk of something going wrong (either

like you mentioned or the anesthesia risk) was worth the opportunity

to heal him.

But, it's very much an individual decision and one that we can only be

best informed about and pray on or decipher ourselves. I wish you

peace in your decision.

Sandi

[Guest guest]

In 's initial MRI for scoliosis, the doctor who dictated the

report thought that the spinal cord was compressed. We got a call

right away. It scared us!! But, the orthopedic doctor said that the

cord was simply following the vertebrae around and there wasn't any

spinal cord compression. I've also heard of paralysis risk issues any

type of spinal surgery. I think it's just a risk for

scoliosis/kyphosis, regardless of what you do (treated or untreated).

At least, for , it is always a risk. For us, if we didn't try

to treat with casting, then cord compression would be even more

of a risk. We're hoping that the casting will actually help to

correct to prevent spinal cord compression.

-

>

> We just returned from our initial consultation with Dr. Stasikelis and

> something he said really stuck out in my mind and it's all I can think

> about. I was wondering if any of the other mothers in this group were

> ever told this. He said that since the spine is being manipulated

> during the casting procedure, that there is a small chance that a

> child could be paralysed, has anyone ever been told this? I was so

> shocked when I heard this that I didn't think to ask if that has

> happened to any of his patients. Dr. S has been casting alot of

> patients since he's been trained in the Mehta-style, but he has only

> been doing this since August. I think I'm going to try to contact him

> and find out more information. This really scared me!

> Rita

> mom to Kate (20 months/46*)

>

[Guest guest]

No, we were never told this that I can remember. The biggest risks we were told

was the anesthesia. I am sure like anything they have to tell you ever possible

consequences, but it really is a gentle procedure. Much less risky than

something like surgery.

Noelle (12-2-01)

Ian (8-15-04)

Initial Consultation with Dr.

Stasikelis/Greenville Shriners

We just returned from our initial consultation with Dr. Stasikelis and

something he said really stuck out in my mind and it's all I can think

about. I was wondering if any of the other mothers in this group were

ever told this. He said that since the spine is being manipulated

during the casting procedure, that there is a small chance that a

child could be paralysed, has anyone ever been told this? I was so

shocked when I heard this that I didn't think to ask if that has

happened to any of his patients. Dr. S has been casting alot of

patients since he's been trained in the Mehta-style, but he has only

been doing this since August. I think I'm going to try to contact him

and find out more information. This really scared me!

Rita

mom to Kate (20 months/46*)

[Guest guest]

We were never told this, either. I do believe it's one of those things like

said--one of all the possible consequences. We were told the greatest

risks are from the anesthesia. Considering how risky surgeries are in

comparison, I'd have to agree that casting is much less risky.

, Mommy to Todd

[infantile_scoliosi s] Initial Consultation with Dr.

Stasikelis/Greenvil le Shriners

We just returned from our initial consultation with Dr. Stasikelis and

something he said really stuck out in my mind and it's all I can think

about. I was wondering if any of the other mothers in this group were

ever told this. He said that since the spine is being manipulated

during the casting procedure, that there is a small chance that a

child could be paralysed, has anyone ever been told this? I was so

shocked when I heard this that I didn't think to ask if that has

happened to any of his patients. Dr. S has been casting alot of

patients since he's been trained in the Mehta-style, but he has only

been doing this since August. I think I'm going to try to contact him

and find out more information. This really scared me!

Rita

mom to Kate (20 months/46*)

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

What you are saying makes sense. Mo has severe rotation and kyphosis. I

remember them telling me about how the spinal cord follows the curve and gets

compressed in the tight spots that the curves create. That's one of the reasons

we ended up with two halos.

Shellie

McDowell wrote:

In 's initial MRI for scoliosis, the doctor who dictated the

report thought that the spinal cord was compressed. We got a call

right away. It scared us!! But, the orthopedic doctor said that the

cord was simply following the vertebrae around and there wasn't any

spinal cord compression. I've also heard of paralysis risk issues any

type of spinal surgery. I think it's just a risk for

scoliosis/kyphosis, regardless of what you do (treated or untreated).

At least, for , it is always a risk. For us, if we didn't try

to treat with casting, then cord compression would be even more

of a risk. We're hoping that the casting will actually help to

correct to prevent spinal cord compression.

-

>

> We just returned from our initial consultation with Dr. Stasikelis and

> something he said really stuck out in my mind and it's all I can think

> about. I was wondering if any of the other mothers in this group were

> ever told this. He said that since the spine is being manipulated

> during the casting procedure, that there is a small chance that a

> child could be paralysed, has anyone ever been told this? I was so

> shocked when I heard this that I didn't think to ask if that has

> happened to any of his patients. Dr. S has been casting alot of

> patients since he's been trained in the Mehta-style, but he has only

> been doing this since August. I think I'm going to try to contact him

> and find out more information. This really scared me!

> Rita

> mom to Kate (20 months/46*)

>

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Rita,

Anything you do to the spine is risky. I would say though that the

manipulation they do in casting is not as risky as having open spinal surgery

either to fuse, or to install metal hardware to hold a curve. Without treatment

early, bigger curves get bigger and more risky interventions. Moriah has had 2

fusion surgeries and 2 halos.

The point of early treatment is that it is done early, and GENTLY. Drs. are

not looking for a 50 degree jump with the first cast. I believe Mehta has said

20 degrees or so max on each cast. This allows the body time to adjust to the

new position of the spine. The correction is gradual, so the body is not put

into shock.

Hope this helps.

Shellie Grant

Rita Madzi wrote:

We just returned from our initial consultation with Dr. Stasikelis and

something he said really stuck out in my mind and it's all I can think

about. I was wondering if any of the other mothers in this group were

ever told this. He said that since the spine is being manipulated

during the casting procedure, that there is a small chance that a

child could be paralysed, has anyone ever been told this? I was so

shocked when I heard this that I didn't think to ask if that has

happened to any of his patients. Dr. S has been casting alot of

patients since he's been trained in the Mehta-style, but he has only

been doing this since August. I think I'm going to try to contact him

and find out more information. This really scared me!

Rita

mom to Kate (20 months/46*)

---------------------------------

Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

[Guest guest]

Thank you everyone who replied, I feel better and more comfortable

with our decision to cast Kate beginning next month. I called

Shriners Greenville this morning and thank goodness for " good

timing " because I was able to speak to Dr. Stasikelis. He said he

has never had a patient that had any type of complication related to

paralysis and also said that Dr. Mehta has not experienced that type

of complication either. I have peace in knowing the benefit out

weighs the risk and can only pray and have faith that it all goes

well.

Thanks everyone!

> >

> > We just returned from our initial consultation with Dr.

Stasikelis and

> > something he said really stuck out in my mind and it's all I can

think

> > about. I was wondering if any of the other mothers in this group

were

> > ever told this. He said that since the spine is being

manipulated

> > during the casting procedure, that there is a small chance that

a

> > child could be paralysed, has anyone ever been told this? I was

so

> > shocked when I heard this that I didn't think to ask if that has

> > happened to any of his patients. Dr. S has been casting alot of

> > patients since he's been trained in the Mehta-style, but he has

only

> > been doing this since August. I think I'm going to try to

contact him

> > and find out more information. This really scared me!

> > Rita

> > mom to Kate (20 months/46*)

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Rita,

We will be praying right along with you!! Let us know what the date is.

Shellie Grant

Rita Madzi wrote:

Thank you everyone who replied, I feel better and more comfortable

with our decision to cast Kate beginning next month. I called

Shriners Greenville this morning and thank goodness for " good

timing " because I was able to speak to Dr. Stasikelis. He said he

has never had a patient that had any type of complication related to

paralysis and also said that Dr. Mehta has not experienced that type

of complication either. I have peace in knowing the benefit out

weighs the risk and can only pray and have faith that it all goes

well.

Thanks everyone!

> >

> > We just returned from our initial consultation with Dr.

Stasikelis and

> > something he said really stuck out in my mind and it's all I can

think

> > about. I was wondering if any of the other mothers in this group

were

> > ever told this. He said that since the spine is being

manipulated

> > during the casting procedure, that there is a small chance that

a

> > child could be paralysed, has anyone ever been told this? I was

so

> > shocked when I heard this that I didn't think to ask if that has

> > happened to any of his patients. Dr. S has been casting alot of

> > patients since he's been trained in the Mehta-style, but he has

only

> > been doing this since August. I think I'm going to try to

contact him

> > and find out more information. This really scared me!

> > Rita

> > mom to Kate (20 months/46*)

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the prayers. We meet with the anesthesiologist on

February 19th and the casting is scheduled for the 20th.

I'll let the group know how it goes. I'm sure I'll have questions.

> > >

> > > We just returned from our initial consultation with Dr.

> Stasikelis and

> > > something he said really stuck out in my mind and it's all I

can

> think

> > > about. I was wondering if any of the other mothers in this

group

> were

> > > ever told this. He said that since the spine is being

> manipulated

> > > during the casting procedure, that there is a small chance

that

> a

> > > child could be paralysed, has anyone ever been told this? I

was

> so

> > > shocked when I heard this that I didn't think to ask if that

has

> > > happened to any of his patients. Dr. S has been casting alot

of

> > > patients since he's been trained in the Mehta-style, but he

has

> only

> > > been doing this since August. I think I'm going to try to

> contact him

> > > and find out more information. This really scared me!

> > > Rita

> > > mom to Kate (20 months/46*)

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

> >

> >