Scoliosis Clinic

At Rubin Orthopedics we treat a large number of patients with scoliosis. Our scoliosis patients come from Sacramento and all over Northern California. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. Most of the children simply need observation, checking the curve with a physical examination and usually an x-ray on a periodic basis (usually every 3 to 6 months). We are checking to make sure the curve is not progressing to a degree which would require treatment.

Treatment involves either bracing or surgery. Only a small percentage of patients we treat with scoliosis end up needing either bracing or surgery. If treatment is necessary, we are well equipped to provide the necessary treatment, and we have many patients who have had bracing and surgery by Dr. Rubin who can be peer contacts for new patients who need treatment. This typically makes the family more comfortable with treatment, to speak with other families in our practice who have gone through the same thing.

Dr. Rubin has put together a Scoliosis Clinic for patients who are being treated by observation of a brace or surgery. This clinic is set up to have the patients come in and have their braces checked by Orthotists as well as allow the patients to create peer contacts. We see scoliosis patients almost everyday, but on these specific dates certified brace specialists will also be present to check the braces with the physician. J.R. from Sunrise Orthotics and Jon Smith from Hanger Orthotics will be the present brace specialist for the clinic on the following dates.

Dates of Our Scoliosis Clinic:

April 04, 2008
June 06, 2008
August 01, 2008
October 03, 2008
December 05, 2008

Time: TBA

These are x-rays of a 14 year old with scoliosis. The x-ray on the

left shows her curve measured at 53 degrees, and the x-ray on

the right is immediately after Dr. Rubin performed a posterior

spinal fusion on her. Her curve measured after surgery is 13

degrees.

These are x-rays of a 15 year old with Scheuermann's

kyphosis. The x-rays on the top show her curve measured

at 90 degrees. The x-rays on the bottom were taken after

Dr. Rubin performed a posterior spinal fusion on her and

her curve now measures 50 degrees.

These are x-rays of a 15 year old girl who had a double

curve scoliosis with neurofibromatosis. Dr. Rubin

performed a posterior spinal fusion on her. The top two

x-rays were taken before surgery, and the bottom two

x-rays were taken after surgery.

This is a picture taken of the same patient's

spine in the operating room, after Dr. Rubin

did the exposure.

These are pictures taken of Dr. Rubin and Mike, Dr. Rubin's Physician Assistant

while they are casting a 10 month old baby for scoliosis in the operating room.

The patient has infantile scoliosis with a rib vertebral angle difference measuring

37 degrees. The cast will need to be changed every 8 to 12 weeks.

Injuries to the toes and fingers are common, and we treat a lot of these conditions in our office. Sports, home accidents, power tools, work benches, car doors, and heavy furniture all can cause injuries to the nail. Shoes can be protective for the toes, but often times we do not wear boots or shoes for convenience sake.

Nails grow along the nail bed. New nails are manufactured from the germinal layer. If the germinal layer is damaged, the nail will not grow. If the nail bed itself is torn or lacerated, the nail will not grow beyond the laceration. It is therefore very important to recognize when a laceration to the nail bed has occurred. A high index of suspicion is required.

A cut through the nail itself suggests a laceration. Fractures to the distal tufts of the fingers or toe are often times associated with a nail bed laceration. The more displaced the fracture, the more likely the nail bed has been damaged. The presence of blood underneath the nail is also strongly suggestive of nail bed laceration.

Dr. Paul Lesko, M.D.