Sometimes spinal disorders may not start when we begin to get older, but right from childhood. Many adolescents suffer from scoliosis, for example, which is a sideways curving of the spine that often occurs during a growth spurt. Some children may even develop spine deformities that continue into their adult age. Treatment may include wearing a back brace or even surgery in more severe cases.
One patient that came to see Dr. Armen Khachatryan is Annabelle Buchi Rowlette. Annabelle suffered from idiopathic adolescent scoliosis at the age of 15 and underwent an operation performed by Dr. Dunn at the University of Utah. The surgery focused on an anterior T10 to L3 left-sided approach with anterior instrumentation. Dr. Dunn saw the patient only once after the operation, but Annabelle was once again healthy … until she began to suffer from aches and pains in her back three years ago.
The next step that Annabelle took was to see Dr. Clawsen who diagnosed her with having pseudoarthrosis at the L3-4 level as well as hardware failure and pseudoarthrosis at the T10-T11 level. For the next two years, Annabelle took part in some conservative treatments such as chiropractic care and physical therapy. Unfortunately, these measures did not relieve her pain.
Ms. Rowlette reported to her healthcare team that she spent most of her time bedridden because of the severity of her back pain. At this point in time, she felt it was time for surgical intervention to help alleviate her suffering. Annabelle sought out Dr. Khachatryan who performed her operation. The treatment included removal of lateral hardware along with L2-3 and L3-4 XLI, L5-S1 anterior lumbar interbody fusion.
A second phase procedure included L1 to S1 posterolateral instrumented fusion. Essentially, Annabelle had two surgeries with three different approaches: a lateral technique, an anterior method through the abdominal section, and a large fusion case through the spine called the prone position. While the operation was very complicated, Annabelle did very well and was able to move again.
Previous to the surgery, she was taking a fair amount of pain medications to manage her affliction. The other surgeons she had visited were not willing to take on such a complicated case, but Dr. K has comprehensive knowledge and expertise of surgical approaches to spinal care. While there was risk with the surgery, as with any operation, Annabelle did very well and gained a higher quality of life. Dr. K is an honest and caring surgeon who will only perform a surgery if the chance of the patient healing is more likely. Dr. K will tell a patient his honest and educated opinion, even explaining whether a surgical approach may or may not help them. Dr. K offers a surgical approach only if the patient has run out of options such as in Annabelle’s case. With the help of Dr. K, Annabelle is now enjoying her life in California.
“I just wanted to say I love this man!! He saved my life,” Annabelle wrote on the health care team’s social media page. “I was literally bedridden and unable to work, take care of my kids, clean my house. It was hell. And this man saved my life by being brave enough to perform such a difficult surgery. I went to three other surgeons before Dr. K and they all told me they could not do anything to assist with the pain. Thank you Dr. K for believing me and fixing me. I will never forget what you have done for me. You gave me back my life. Thank you.”