Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center: Spine Program

Task: Dobies Healthcare Group and the Neuroscience team at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis worked together to enhance the online content and presence of their Spine Program, a Le Bonheur Center of Excellence. Le Bonheur's Neuroscience Institute serves as the regional hub for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric neurological disorders, which include:

• Spine tumors in children: An abnormal tissue growth within or next to the spinal cord.
• Scoliosis: A spine affected by scoliosis shows evidence of a lateral, or sideways, curvature, and a rotation of the back bones (vertebrae), giving the appearance that the person is leaning to one side.
• Tethered cord syndrome: A disorder caused by tissue attachments that limit the movement of the spinal cord within the spinal column.
• Spina bifida: a condition in which there is abnormal development of the back bones, spinal cord, surrounding nerves, and the fluid-filled sac that surrounds the spinal cord.
• Pediatric spine injury
• Spinal stenosis

State-of-the-art equipment and a knowledgeable team of experts are available to perform complex treatments and surgeries for spine disorders including:

• Pediatric rhizotomy - More commonly called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), is a surgery that relieves the muscle tightness or stiffness (spacticity) caused by spastic cerebral palsy.
• Pediatric laminectomy - A surgical procedure to open the area around the spinal cord and nerve roots. The area is opened so a surgeon can remove spine tumors, relieve pressure on spinal nerves or correct tethered cord syndrome.
• Halo traction - A treatment to help straighten the backs of children with severe curves in their spines.
• Vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) - A metal rod curved to fit the back of the chest and spine. During a surgical procedure it is attached to the rib cage or pelvis to help the spine become straighter.
• Spine fracture surgery - A specialized surgery to correct a break or crack in the vertebrae (bone segments) of the spine.

About the Client: The Spine Program at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center includes some of the most sought after and well-respected spine surgeons in the nation. Each year children from across the country seek treatment for their pediatric spinal conditions at Le Bonheur's Neuroscience Institute. For more information about the Spine Program and other services at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, please visit their Web site.