Scoliosis medical device startup spun out of ABIA

From the Akron-Beacon Journal 1.12.12 Full Article Here

The Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron (ABIA) has created its first company: a firm that’s developing a noninvasive spinal fixation system for children with scoliosis.

APTO Orthopaedics’ device is designed to eliminate the need for repetitive, painful and costly surgeries for children with scoliosis, who can require up to two surgeries per year to adjust implants for their growing spines, according to a statement from the ABIA.

“This technology would allow surgeons to lengthen the spinal implants in an incision-less manner that would enable reduction in the expense, trauma and risk that accompany current procedures,” said Dr. Todd Ritzman, cofounder of the company and a physician at Akron Children’s Hospital.

APTO’s key next steps involve continuing work to develop a prototype of the device, and after that, beginning to test the device on animals, an ABIA official said.


The U.S. spinal implants market is valued at $6.8 billion annually, according to the statement.
The ABIA was formed in 2008 as a result of the collaboration among several Akron institutions: Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron General Health System, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Summa Health System, The University of Akron and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Within a decade, the ABIA wants to create 2,400 new jobs and attract at least $50 million worth of investments annually in area healthcare companies.

Please visit http://www.thescoliosisfoundation.org/ for more information.

Saving Julie From Scoliosis

Published Thursday, December 01, 2011 3:01 AM at The Eagle

Saving Julie from Scoliosis

 

The following information was provided by a third party, and was not prepared or edited for accuracy by The Eagle.

LOS ANGELES ( Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Look in the mirror ,do you see a slight curve on your back? 3% of us have scoliosis.  It's a minor problem for most people, but for some children it's severe and requires treatment.
At 39, Julie Flores enjoys the little things in life but it wasn't too long ago Julie's routine was a lot different.
"I just felt like it was painful, it was no fun," Julie told Ivanhoe.
It started with a head tilt at the age of five. By the time Julie turned eight, her upper body was bent almost in half. She was diagnosed with dystonia, a movement disorder that causes involuntary muscle spasms. By then severe scoliosis had set in too.
"I'll never forget one comment someone made of a high school boy who saw her and said 'oh look at that giraffe'," Lidia Flores, Julie's mother, told Ivanhoe.
By the time Julie hit 30, even house work caused unimaginable pain.  Then, her mom found Dr. Frank Acosta.
"Hers was an extreme case where her spine was essentially shaped like an s," Frank Acosta, M.D., Director of Spinal Deformaty at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, explained.
"This is a pretty severe case, yeah, one of the worst i have ever seen," Dr. Acosta stated.
After two operations doctor Acosta placed screws down Julie's spine with help from computer navigation. The goal was to take some pressure off her lung, organs and nerves and realign her spine. After 9 weeks at the hospital and 4 months of physical therapy the operation was a success.
"I sat next to her and Julia was I think two inches taller than me," Lidia said.
"When I got up and I sat up, I was like wow," Julie said.
Julie can now stand up straight for the first time in 31 years.
"I feel like God gave me this whole brand new life again," Julie said.
Eventually bone will grow up and down Julie's spine over the rods that were surgically implanted. The years of compression caused some damage to her lungs but Julie is now almost pain-free.

Please visit http://www.thescoliosisfoundation.org/ for more information.

I said it once, and I will say it again...

Its amazing to me how resilient and confident children are nowadays. As Amber and I prepared for Aiden's surgery today, we felt the gambit of emotions ranging from anxiety to despair. All the while, the person going through the surgery, Aiden, is calm, cool, and collected. His spine is being operated on and we are the ones exhibiting these emotions. Aiden, once again, showed us a very valuable lesson. His calm demeanor is evidence that those afflicted with trauma, pain, or a medical condition can still touch those around them. As well as set an example for how to deal with adversity!

Thank you to everyone for their positive thoughts. They truly work!

Please visit http://www.thescoliosisfoundation.org/ for more information.

What Does Surgery Mean to Him?

On November 21, 2011, our son, Aiden, will go into Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) for surgery to help treat his Infantile Scoliosis. This surgery, the Grow Rods, will be used to help correct the abnormal curve of his spine, as well as, attempt to impede further increases in degree curvature (his curve is currently 70 degrees+). The surgery for a 5 year old is not performed very often and comes with some risks. However, our doctor, Peter Sturm, is one of the best. We are hoping his experience and knowledge will change Aiden's life forever.

At only 5 years old, Aiden has had 2 different types of braces and 14 body casts to help alleviate the curve of his spine. Although about 3% of the population has some type of scoliosis, those patients with degree curves of 50 degrees and higher is only 0.03%. Needless to say, what Aiden has is rare. Amber and I have always been open about his treatment and talk to Aiden regularly about his condition. He takes his limitations with a grain of salt and strives to be as normal as possible. However, his daily life has been altered due to the casting and doctor appointment. People always ask him why he wears a cast, his clothes never fit properly, people stare, and school is altered because of all the appointments at the doctors. Now that we have neared the time when surgery is inevitable, Amber and I know what the benefits (and drawbacks) are for our son. But what does this surgery mean for him?

Aiden knows that he will never be able to play football. He knows that he has 6 pre-op appointments October 27, 2011 to prepare for the surgery (i.e. Cardiology, blood work, EKG, Titanium and Nickel Testing, Pulmonary Testing, etc). He knows that his back will be cut open from the base of the neck to the top of his buttocks. He knows he will have hundred of stitches to close his surgical wound. He knows that he will be in pain. He knows he will spend time in ICU after the surgery. He knows we will spend Thanksgiving at the Hospital. He knows that he will have to go back in to CCHMC for additional surgeries every 9-12 months. He knows that eventually he will have to have another major surgery to add new rods. He knows that he will have 3 months of no contact or play. He knows that his diet will change. He knows that he will have to wear a brace for 3 months. He knows that his back is a part of him and he needs it. He knows that it will be a long road for his recovery. Aiden knows all these things at the young age of 5.

After telling him all these things, we asked him if he was ok with his surgery. We asked him if he wanted to go through with it. And this is when Aiden showed that there was one thing he didn't know. He asked me "I don't have to wear any more casts? That means I will be normal?". And with a few short inquisitive questions, Aiden showed me that I didn't know everything. Aiden will always be normal. His scoliosis is normal to us. But to him, he wants to be like the other kids. Not only will this surgery attempt to help his scoliosis, it will begin a new chapter for him and his quest to be normal. Now that is a question only time will answer.

Please visit http://www.thescoliosisfoundation.org/ for more information.

A Step in the Right Direction

A doctor in New York is in the beginning stages of a minimally invasive surgery to correct spinal deformities caused by scoliosis. The doctor, Vishal Sarwahi, M.D., Director of Spine Deformity Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center, stated that he could minimize the number of incisions, x-ray exposure, and recuperation time with this new procedure. Although his control group consisted of adolescent scoliosis patients, his work seems promising. These advances in the fight against scoliosis are important, even if they are not on a grand scale. Please check out the full article at PR Newswire.

Please visit http://www.thescoliosisfoundation.org/ for more information.

New Initiatives with CCHMC

The Scoliosis Foundation is once again partnering with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center on new initiatives involving patient care, mainframe database access for scoliosis patients & doctors, and doctor/nurse practictioner training. We are hoping to get started quickly so more detailed information to come soon!

Please visit http://www.thescoliosisfoundation.org/ for more information.

'One Degree at a Time' Golf Outing Update

The Scoliosis Foundation has updated the information for the golf outing to be held on August 27, 2011 at Glenview Golf Course. This information can be found on the Auction Items and Golf Info link from the outing page. Some of the updated event info includes:

$100 Golf Registration Fee includes:

• 18 holes of golf with cart
• City BBQ dinner
• Gift bag
• Entry into Longest Drive contest
• Entry into Closest to the Pin contest
• Entry for Door Prizes
• Beer - at golf course and after party
  

Extras - with cost

• Gimme/Mulligan/Throw Package $20
  

            Limit 2 per team

• $10,000 Hole In One Contest $20
  

            Limit 1 per player - played on South Course Hole #5

• Split-the-Pot

            1 for $1/10 for $5/20 for $10

• Cornhole Tournament $20 per team
  

            Played during after-party at the Century Inn

• Silent Auction Price Varies
  

            See below for detailed items - items subject to change


Please visit http://www.thescoliosisfoundation.org/GolfOuting.html for more information.