Spinal surgery grants brave toddler mobility
LITTLE Mckenna Atson’s life has been changed after undergoing a groundbreaking procedure to straighten her spine at UCT’s Private Academic Hospital.
The highly complex spinal reconstructive surgery was successfully completed on the 18-month-old Mckenna, who had severe congenital scoliosis, a spinal deformity caused by vertebrae that are not properly formed, which causes the spine to curve sideways.
Mckenna was born with three malformed vertebrae growing on the right but not the left, causing a progressive deformity as she got older.
Orthopaedic spine surgeon Professor Robert Dunn, who performed the surgery, said that at 18 months and weighing just 9kg, it was extremely young and small to undergo the necessary spinal surgery to correct the deformity.
“We were able to correct and straighten her spine and we expect Mckenna to have no further problems and to grow normally now.
“It was most gratifying to see this brave young girl walk herself out of the hospital just three days after the operation,” Dunn said.
Mckenna’s mother, Lee-Anne Atson, said the toddler has made an excellent recovery and is now able to stand up.
“She has always been a highly active child, but we were rather astonished when she asked to walk on the second day after the operation. Mckenna has just had a check-up and her doctors are pleased with her progress. She is an absolute bundle of energy and joy at home.”
Dunn added: “Greater awareness needs to be raised on the subcontinent of this debilitating medical condition (congenital scoliosis), particularly as many of these children often require early management and treatment.
“Because scoliosis tends to cause a progressive twist in the spine as the child grows, it may cause a number of related complications such as respiratory, cardiac and neurological problems.” – Staff Writer