Landmark spinal surgery gives Amber Jepsen hope

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Landmark spinal surgery gives Amber Jepsen hope

July 10, 2009 12:00am

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,,25758130-2862,00.html

A REVOLUTIONARY spine-stapling operation is helping young Amber Jepsen fight a

crippling condition and dream of one day walking unaided.

Royal Children's Hospital surgeons placed staples along one side of the

six-year-old's spine to fight her worsening scoliosis - which has curved her

spine at a 49 degree angle and could have crippled her as she grows.

Without the operation, performed by the hospital for only the second time ever,

Amber's only options were surgery every six months or wearing a waist-to-neck,

body-cast brace 23 hours a day for the next six years, which would stop her from

moving and playing at her Carlsruhe farm home.

Instead, she is playing with her pony, Honey, and learning to kick a football a

week after the keyhole surgery.

" It means I don't have to wear a brace and I can play with my animals, " she

said.

Parents and Brad said the surgery had made a world of difference.

" As soon as she came out of the surgeon's office she said, 'Give me an

operation. I won't wear that brace', " Ms Jepsen said.

" The brace would have been almost impossible for us to live with.

" I would have had to fight with her to get it on, it would have made her more

different from her friends, hot in summer, unable to sleep, and it would have

made moving hard.

" They don't know if she will be able to stand, but we are hoping that this will

happen and she can take steps on her own. She can play Wii games now, standing

in her frame, and that is really exciting.

" And I am really hoping she can spend a lot more time in her walker and be able

to do more things independently. "

At three, Amber was diagnosed with severe Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a

hereditary ailment causing weak body muscles, especially in legs and ankles.

After surgery to repair her hips, a growth spurt showed Amber had scoliosis and

her spine was curving dangerously.

Spine stapling surgery can only be done on curves of less than 50 degrees.

With the most recent scans showing Amber's spine had reached a 49 degree twist,

orthopaedic surgeon took action.

He placed six staples to link the growth plates of vertebrae along the outside

of the curve on her spine to stop the spine's right side growing too quickly and

help the slow-growing left side catch up.

The surgery will only suit one or two n cases a year. Because it is

intended to protect and correct the spine for up to eight years, the extent of

its success is unknown.

But watching his daughter improve and knowing her fighting spirit, Mr Jepsen

said the sky was the limit for Amber.

" Her attitude is that she will have a crack at anything, " he said.

" She thinks Richmond needs help kicking goals so she wants to get out there. "