SUS performs unprecedented pediatric surgery in Rio de Janeiro

Doctors from the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (INTO) performed, for the first time through the Unified Health System (SUS), a technique that corrects severe cases of childhood scoliosis and hyperkyphosis with just one surgical procedure.

The new spine-lengthening technology, which is aimed at children up to ten years of age, reduces the exposure of child patients to further surgery, while conventional treatment requires pediatric patients to return every six months to maintain the procedure.

The technique was created by French orthopedist Lotfi Miladi, from the Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, linked to the University of Paris. The specialist was at INTO, on the 29th, to participate in the procedure, which lasted about three hours, alongside the head of the INTO Spine Disease Center, Ricardo Meirelles, and the orthopedist at the same Center, Alderico Girão.

“A child who arrived for treatment at the age of seven underwent at least six surgeries to complete the correction of these diseases, so, in addition to reducing exposure to anesthesia and infections, there is a decrease in the recurrence of these procedures and a consequent increase in surgical production for care for other patients”, explains Meirelles.

The operated patient was an 8-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. Her mother, Regina Célia de Matos Ferreira, celebrates her good recovery.

“Her recovery has been very good, she has not been feeling any pain, she is already sitting in the chair, she is very well. She can now hold my hand and force her body to get up on her own. I was very happy because normal surgery would have had to open up her entire spine, and with this surgery it was a small cut underneath and a second behind her neck. It was very good for me to know that she will not need to undergo further surgeries”, said Regina.

During the surgery, a device is inserted, which works like a ratchet, capable of monitoring the spinal elongation of the child during his/her body development. Among the benefits of the initiative are the shorter hospital stay for patients, a reduction of approximately six hours in the duration of surgery, maintenance of lung capacity and the elimination of the risk of bone marrow injuries.

“Early scoliosis and hyperkyphosis are usually neuromuscular in origin. This is the case of the patient operated by INTO. We hope to give this child back balance in the trunk and improve the quality of life”, points out Meirelles.

The new technology was used in Brazil only by the Associação de Assistência à Criança Deficiente, in São Paulo. In Rio de Janeiro, this is the first time the procedure has been performed.