5th Annual Spine Symposium, Dallas

[Guest guest]

5th Annual Fall Spine Symposium

Progressive Infantile Scoliosis: Evaluation and Nonoperative Treatment

Friday, October 3, 2008

This was by far the largest Early Treatment Tutorial, to date!

Approximately, 120 medical professionals attended; 50 of them pediatric orthopaedic

surgeons and fellows from the U.S. and abroad. As mentioned in the first update,

the team in SLC has played a crucial role in making the ET Method available to

children in the U.S. Their ET experience and

participation in this event demonstrated to the medical community the validity

and scientifically proven effectiveness of this gentle treatment

modality. SLC also presented on more conservative treatment approaches

for children with infantile and juvenile scoliosis who did not have the

opportunity to grow straight via the ET Method. The audience was

introduced to the role that serial casting and other non surgical treatments

such as properly applied halo traction, can play in gaining correction, curve

maintenance and buying necessary growing time before a definitive plan of care

is decided and carried through. The Texas ish Rite Hospital for

Children in Dallas was the best venue in the U.S. to host this event! Their Center of Excellence is world renowned for work in pediatric spinal

deformities, where numerous doctors train every year in various fellowships to

further their medical education. This ET tutorial exposed the next

generation of pediatric orthopaedic surgeons in attendance to the benefits of

the Early Treatment Method. They were able to witness firsthand how ET

can save and change lives! Everyone participating was receptive, excited

and very respectful towards Miss Mehta and her life’s work. The

event was a resounding success and ISOP has received only positive feedback

from the medical community. It is clear that the tide of treatment for

progressive infantile scoliosis is now changing. Dr. Mehta’s Early

Treatment Method of EDF casting is gradually being accepted and practiced, thus

current common standard of care practices will slowly change. The orthopaedic

community is realizing that metal and fusion may be avoided altogether if the

child with progressive infantile scoliosis is treated early and properly.

At the end of the conference Dr. Mehta was thanked for the gift that she has

given to the children of the world!

Rarely is the

word “cure” used in medical terminology. The harsh diagnosis

heard by parents of a suffering child

can now be

softened with words of hope.

“The study titled Growth as a corrective force in the early

treatment of progressive infantile scoliosis has contributed to furthering the

aim of reversing progressive scoliosis in infancy by demonstrating that far

from being an adverse factor, the vigorous growth of infancy is the principal

force in converting a progressive infantile scoliosis

into a straight spine by early treatment. This perception of growth

working as a corrective force in childhood deformities should alter the aim of

the treatment of infantile scoliosis from containment to cure, and [realize]

a future when many more children with progressive deformity may be restored to normal

appearance and function.”

Min Mehta, M.D., FRCS

Sincerely,

HRH