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Scoliosis Publication is Resource for Parents and Medical Professionals

A paper on scoliosis in PWS, by Drs. Harold van Bosse and Merlin Butler, is a good resource to have for discussion with your medical team.

scoliosis-in-pws-covered-in-new-publicationParents may want to download and keep a copy of this review on scoliosis in PWS. The paper comes from Dr. Harold van Bosse, an orthopedic surgeon at Shriner’s Hospital with extensive experience in caring for kids with PWS and scoliosis, and Dr. Merlin Butler, a medical geneticist who has studied genetic and clinical aspects of PWS for decades.

The paper, Clinical Observations and Treatment Approaches for Scoliosis in Prader–Willi Syndrome, is freely available here. It provides a comprehensive review of scoliosis in PWS, including:

  • Screening guidelines
  • Risk factors
  • Treatment options (bracing, casting and surgery)
  • Expected outcomes
  • Special considerations
  • Unresolved questions
  • and more.

The paper is written for medical professionals rather than parents, so it is technical, but even those without a medical background will be able to gain some information from it. In addition, it may serve as a useful jumping off point for discussions with primary care doctors about scoliosis problems in PWS and provides guidance on clinical questions such growth hormone use and scoliosis. Overall, it’s a good paper to have on hand for scoliosis questions and discussion.

scoliosis and PWS van bosse video

Topics: Research

Theresa Strong

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Theresa V. Strong, Ph.D., received a B.S. from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Medical Genetics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). After postdoctoral studies with Dr. Francis Collins at the University of Michigan, she joined the UAB faculty, leading a research lab focused on gene therapy for cancer and directing UAB’s Vector Production Facility. Theresa is one of the founding members of FPWR and has directed FPWR’s grant program since its inception. In 2016, she transitioned to a full-time position as Director of Research Programs at FPWR. She remains an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Genetics at UAB. She and her husband Jim have four children, including a son with PWS.