June is Scoliosis Awareness Month

Scoliosis is an orthopedic condition that affects two to three percent of the population, or an estimated six to nine million people in the United States. While most people with scoliosis have mild symptoms, moderate or severe scoliosis can cause changes with walking, reduced range of motion, pain, trouble breathing, and cardiovascular problems. Surgery may be the best option to help people with severe scoliosis. The Spine Center at Danbury Hospital, part of Western Connecticut Health Network (WCHN), is one of only a few centers in Connecticut that offer surgery to improve scoliosis for both teenagers and adults.

Scoliosis is a progressive disease. Danbury Hospital spine surgeons can talk about the importance of early intervention to manage curve progression and options to treat moderate to severe scoliosis.

Spine Surgeons
David A. Bomback, MD, Spine Surgeon, Connecticut Neck and Back Specialists, Medical Director of Orthopedic Surgery, Neurological Surgery, and Trauma Surgery for Danbury Hospital

David L. Kramer, MD, Spine Surgeon, Connecticut Neck and Back Specialists, Network Chief, Section of Spine Surgery for Danbury Hospital; Dr. Kramer is also the Ervie and Carolyn Hawley Endowed Chair in Orthopaedic Spine Surgery at WCHN.

Patient Story
Sophie Bjornson, from Bethel, Connecticut, can talk about her experience with scoliosis. The 18-year-old high school senior was diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis in middle school. Drs. Bomback and Kramer performed her surgery for scoliosis in December 2017, with the goal for her to be able to participate in all of her senior year activities, including prom and graduation.

Although Sophie took preventative measures to mitigate further spinal curve progression, including wearing a brace, her spine continued to curve. By her senior year of high school, her spine was curved 48 degrees.

Sophie said the surgery changed her life. To start, she grew two inches in one day! Before her surgery, she struggled with feeling different and disproportionate in her own body. She felt alone. As the youngest of four children, she was the only one in her family with scoliosis. She will tell you about her road to recovery and how her surgery was absolutely worth it.

Sophie wants to talk about the importance of school screenings. She is very thankful to the nurse at her middle school for noticing her shoulders were uneven. She also wants others with scoliosis to know that they are not alone and there is hope. Drs. Bomback and Kramer gave her hope and she is grateful for her straight spine.

Sophie is also very thankful to the nurses who took care of her at Danbury Hospital. She always knew she wanted a career where she was helping people, but it was not until her experience at Danbury Hospital when she decided she wanted to be a nurse. She is looking forward to attending Western Connecticut State University this fall. She has been accepted into the pre-nursing program. But first, she will celebrate her high school graduation this June. Congratulations Sophie!

To learn more and speak with the surgeons and Sophie, please contact: Amy Forni, Amy.Forni@wchn.org, 203-739-7478

About Western Connecticut Health Network
Western Connecticut Health Network is the region’s premier, patient-centered healthcare organization serving residents of western Connecticut and adjacent New York. WCHN is anchored by three nationally recognized hospitals, Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital, and Norwalk Hospital. We have an integrated network of more than 1,300 employed and community physicians and specialists, 70 Western Connecticut Medical Group medical and sub-specialty practices across 16 communities, and Western Connecticut Home Care. Our nationally renowned Rudy L. Ruggles Biomedical Research Institute is leading innovative research, especially for cancer and Lyme disease. Many of our advancements have been made possible by generous donors from our community and through the Danbury Hospital & New Milford Hospital Foundation and the Norwalk Hospital Foundation. As an academic institution, we are proud to shape the future of care through our partnership with the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. WCHN employs nearly 6,300 employees including about 1,900 clinical staff. For more information, visit wchn.org. Share your comments with us at Facebook.com/DanburyHospital, Facebook.com/NewMilfordHospital, and Facebook.com/NorwalkHospital.