Catching up with Abby

When you look Abby DiCocco, a 13-year-old from Clifton Park, N.Y, it’s hard to believe that the rising eighth grader, avid swimmer and budding triathlete ever had any problems with her spine. Abby was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was in first grade and had surgery to remove a Chiari malformation, an abnormal meeting between the brain and spinal cord, at Boston Children’s Hospital. One year after that surgery, Abby’s orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Emans, director of the Boston Children’s Spinal Program, prescribed a brace to treat her scoliosis. However, despite everyone’s best efforts, Abby’s scoliosis progressed as she grew, and her curve reached 65 degrees by age 11. That’s when Emans suggested a new option — MAGEC surgery. Remote-controlled magnetic rods are surgically implanted into the spine and periodically lengthened to treat early-onset scoliosis. Abby was the first at Boston Children’s to receive this surgery, which reduced her curve from 65 to 10 degrees. That was two years ago. After Abby’s scoliosis surgery Scoliosis surgery has made a big difference for Abby, giving her the freedom to pursue sports. Before her surgery, Abby was swimming crooked and more slowly than her peers. Completing a triathlon, let alone placing second, was out of the question. However, her drive and passion led her to continue to swim and begin competing in triathlons. Through MAGEC and the lengthening process of these rods, Abby can avoid the frequent surgeries ...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Our Patients’ Stories Chiari Malformation Dr. John Emans MAGEC surgery scoliosis Spinal Program Source Type: news