Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital is the first location in Louisiana to perform a new spinal surgery treating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Called the ApiFix procedure, the surgery is a less invasive, motion-preserving option for achieving spinal curve correction.
Drs. John Faust, Brad Culotta, and Ryan P. Farmer, orthopedic surgeons with Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health, collaborated on the new spinal surgery on Feb. 22. The ApiFix procedure provides an alternative to both bracing and spinal fusion for select AIS patients, instead inserting an internal brace that both preserves motion and allows for patient growth via a self-adjusting rod.
Performed using a posterior approach familiar to pediatric orthopedic surgeons and requiring only three anchor points on one side of the spine, the procedure usually takes less than two hours, with patients typically staying in the hospital one to two days after the procedure.
“Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health is at the forefront of innovative care, and I’m excited to be able to offer the ApiFix procedure to our patients,” said Faust. “The procedure is a real breakthrough in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, offering a less-invasive option with more spinal motion control compared to traditional spinal fusion."
Scoliosis is a side-to-side curve of the spine greater than 10 degrees. AIS, the most common type of scoliosis, occurs in late childhood or adolescence. Its cause is unknown. In many cases, AIS curves are stable; however, in some cases, the curve can continue to progress over time. For curves that are progressing, treatment options could include bracing or surgery, such as a spinal fusion. The ApiFix procedure was developed to provide a viable alternative to both bracing and fusion for select patients.
“This procedure is a game-changer for our children and adolescents,” said Trey Dunbar, MD, president of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health. “We take great pride in the fact that we’re able to bring to Louisiana some of the most ground-breaking innovation when it comes to medicine and treatment. With surgeons like Drs. Faust, Culotta, and Farmer on our team, the sky is the limit to what we can accomplish as a health system.”