The Hairpin Turn

Up until July 2011 we were under the impression that Allie's curves were such that they did not need to be braced. We had been told that bracing would happen if her curves went over 30 degrees. At her January 2011 check-up, we were assured there was no need for a brace. I honestly can't remember if the doctor told us what the curves were measuring. In June 2010, her top curve (thoracic) was at 22 degrees and the lower curve (thoracolumbar) was at 19--per the orthopedic's measurements.

In July 2011 her curves measured 39 degrees (thoracic or top curve) and 47 degrees (thoracolumbar or bottom curve). The new orthopedic doctor says that she was now at the top end of where bracing would be effective and that she was now considered a surgical candidate. He said that because of her recent growth and the rapid increase in the curve, Allie needed to have and MRI to make sure there was nothing neurologically causing the rapid increase. Thankfully, the MRI was essentially clean--just a small spot that may need to be monitored in the future. We moved forward with the thought that surgery would still be at least 2 years away.


This is the July 2011 x-ray and you are viewing it as if you are looking at Allie's back. A couple of things I would like to point out. First, looking at her shoulders you can see that her left shoulder is just slightly lower than her right. The left side of her rib cage is flattened on the outside and the ribs sit closer together. The left side of her pelvic bone is higher than her right. These are details that I did not pick up on until late September.

Lisa