Small Cuts, Quicker Recovery

Advanced surgical procedure corrects spine problem

At 19, Julie-Ann Pader was a real go-getter. The mother of a three-year-old worked as a paralegal and a waitress while attending college for her paralegal associate degree. She also enjoyed jogging and swimming at the beach. Thanks to the innovative minimally invasive surgery she underwent, she's never felt better.

Julie-Ann suffered from scoliosis (curvature of the spine). Other doctors told her they could halt the curving, but not correct it. Then she found Robert Durkin, M.D., a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.

Because of her age, Julie-Ann was surprised that Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children would treat her. However, she learned that the specialty of pediatrics covers children and young adults, from birth to age 21. For pediatric orthopedics, which deals with conditions that originate during childhood, the typical age cutoff is 22.

In Julie-Ann's case, instead of cutting a long incision in her back or side, Dr. Durkin made eight small incisions on her right side. He then inserted metal rods and screws, and bone grafts from her hip, to straighten and fuse her spinal column together. The procedure was only the second surgery of its kind performed in Hawaii.

"With traditional surgery, the typical recovery period is four to seven days in the hospital and three to six weeks before returning to school or work," says Dr. Durkin. "Julie-Ann was out of the hospital in three days, working part-time two weeks later and full-time in three weeks."

"Dr. Durkin did a great job," says Julie-Ann. "There are fewer scars, my back is definitely straighter, and I feel taller and much more confident about myself."

For further information about Minimally Invasive Surgery, click here.