Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2007

Mentor: Charles E. Johnston, MD
Department: Orthopaedics
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, 2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, TX 75219
Phone number: 214-559-8471 (Tara Kristof, Summer Student Coordinator)
E-mail: tara.kristof@tsrh.org
Project title: Prospective Study of Deformity Management and Pulmonary Function in Early-Onset Scoliosis

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 062004-059

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A

Project Type : patient based

Brief Description of Project: To establish normal values on pediatric chest films for correlation to clinical patients in our prospective study to determine pulmonary function and thoracic volume outcomes in a series of patients with early-onset scoliosis treated by multiple methods (operative and non-operative).

Previously obtained x-rays taken by the radiology department and deemed as "normal" will be measured, and values recorded, to compare with measurements made on clinical patients in order to quantify their thoracic pathologies. X-rays where the patient has a diagnosis of significant growth abnormality (skeletal dysplasia, congenital spine, cerebral palsy) or co-morbidity (congenital heart disease) will be excluded, x-rays with lung pathology (atelectasis, pneumonia) will be included in the "normal" group.

We will determine normal values for: T1-12 length, T6 coronal width, T6-sternum sagittal width. The measurements will be correlated with the age of patient (mo/yr) and pelvic width if visible.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

Andrade N, Johnston CE II: Medial epiphysiolysis in severe infantile tibia vara. J Pediatr Orthop 26:652. 2006.

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