Scottish Rite Hospital To Hold Orthopedic Series In February

Source: TylerPaper

By COSHANDRA DILLARD

Staff Writer

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas will be holding a pediatric orthopedic education series for medical personnel Feb. 7. The seminar will allow local physicians, nurses and allied health professionals to learn about the latest advances in scoliosis, hip dislocation, foot deformalities and sports injuries in children.

Dr. Karl Rathjen, program director and staff orthopedist, said since pediatric orthopedics is a small specialty field they receive several cases from the East Texas area each year. The number of cases has grown by about 48 percent since last year, TSRHC officials said.

"There are only about 700 pediatric orthopedists in North America so it's a relatively small field but as the population grows more and more physicians may want to specialize in it," Dr. Rathjen said.

The seminar is part of a mission to offer information and resources to local pediatricians and primary care providers for continuing education credits.

"Our mission is to be a state resource," Dr. Rathjen said. "We think if they can be taken care of in their community that is best thing for them. But we are here for more resources and to act collaboratively, rather than competitively."

Bringing opportunities for continuing education credits to medical professionals in smaller cities alleviates the cost of traveling and reduces time spent away from their practices, Dr. Rathjen said.

A local 12-year-old girl's case of scoliosis will be among the topics of discussion during the seminar.

Diana resident Ashley Brown, a multi-sport athlete, was referred to TSRHC after battling pain her in right leg that progressed to her foot and hamstring. Her spine also curved to the left. Not only did TSRHC physician, Dr. Daniel J. Sucato, diagnose Ashley with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, he also discovered she had a condition known as spondylolisthesis, which causes a vertebra in the lower part of the spine to shift forward more than 50 percent. Ashley's condition was compounded by a nerve problem that required the care of a neurologist.

"She was typically a happy-go-lucky child until she started hurting all of the time," she Camille Brown, Ashley's mother. "She just wanted to be taken care of. We have a firm belief in our faith and our God and that's what got her through  "She is a happy, normal child now and I'm thankful to Scottish Rite for that."

Dr. Rathjen said about 1 in 20 people usually do not require surgery for scoliosis. He said TSRHC performs about 300 surgeries each year, with only five to 10 of those being spondylolisthesis. SRHC treated 98 patients with spondylolisthesis last year.

The seminar will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Quality Hotel Conference Center, 2843 W. Northwest Loop 323. The registration fee is $50. Fore more information call 214-559-8561 or visit www.tsrhc.org.