Wellness, revolutionized. - Children's Hospital Central California

of scoliosis and thoracic insufficiency
syndrome (TIS). TIS is a congenital
condition causing severe deformities of
the chest, spine, and ribs that prevents
normal breathing and lung growth.
The titanium rib - a curved metal rod
attached to ribs near the spine - helps
straighten the spine and separate ribs
so the lungs can fill with adequate air to
breathe. The length of the device can be
adjusted as the patient grows.
“These procedures are very complex
and should be done at a children’s
hospital such as ours that specializes in
spinal surgery,” said Dr. Elliott.
Up to 4 percent of children age 10 to
16 in the U.S. have adolescent idiopathic
scoliosis (AIS); the majority of those
affected are girls.
This before-and-after shot
shows the difference the Shilla
procedure can make. With the
implant, the patient went from a
50 degree curvature of the spine
to a 10 degree curvature.
We have the
best options
available to
modern
technology
that we can
tailor to each
patient.
Bone anchored hearing.
In the U.S., up to three out of every 1,000 children are born deaf or hard of
hearing, and more lose their hearing later in childhood. Hearing is vital to
a child’s early speech and language growth, and hearing devices can be key
to a child’s development.
The type of hearing loss a child has determines what kind of hearing
device is most appropriate. Bone Anchored Hearing, or BAHA, is a surgical
alternative when traditional “in the ear” or “behind the ear” devices are
not effective. The amazing device directly stimulates the inner ear through
the bone.
“The BAHA is appropriate for those who have conductive hearing loss,
mixed hearing loss, or single-sided deafness,” said Dr. Jairo Torres, a surgeon
in Children’s ear, nose and throat division. “We learn speech by the feedback
we hear. If a child has one normal ear, usually their speech is fine, but if not,
this can help.”
Bone conduction transmits sound directly through the jaw and skull,
bypassing the outer and middle ear. Conventional hearing aids rely on air
conduction and won’t work if the middle ear isn’t functioning. The BAHA is
designed to bypass the outer and middle ear altogether.
The short, outpatient procedure is done under general anesthesia for
children age 5 and up. It involves surgically implanting a titanium screw
into the skull and leaves a small abutment exposed outside the skin. After
the titanium attachment has had three to six months to integrate with the
bone, the sound processor, or hearing device, is snapped onto the abutment.
The surgeon may also implant a “back-up” titanium post in case the initial
receptor fails or becomes damaged.
The child’s hair grows over the abutment, concealing the device. The surgery
is easily reversible, but Dr. Torres said few people choose that option because,
“the sound quality is so great.”
(Continued on page 19)
Children’s
otolaryngology
surgeon
Dr. Jairo Torres
uses the BAHA
implant to help
kids have better
lives.
18
RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS