Trust LuskinOIC Experts to Diagnose, Treat and Manage Your Child’s Scoliosis Posted on December 7, 2024May 1, 2025 by esw Scoliosis is a medical condition characterized by an abnormal curvature of the spine where instead of a straight alignment, the spine may curve sideways, forming an “S” or “C” shape. This condition can affect people of any age, but it often becomes noticeable during adolescence when the spine is growing rapidly. The severity of scoliosis varies, and it can cause a range of symptoms, including uneven shoulders or hips, back pain, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing if the curvature affects the chest cavity. Early detection and intervention are crucial for managing scoliosis effectively. Treatment options depend on factors such as the degree of curvature, the cause of scoliosis, and the age of the individual. LuskinOIC is home to some of the world’s leading experts in the field of scoliosis, pediatric orthopedics, and spinal deformity surgery. Our team, led by President and CEO of LuskinOIC, Dr. Anthony Scaduto, is renowned for leading-edge research and pioneering innovative techniques that are redefining what is possible in pediatric spinal care. Detecting scoliosis in your child Children with scoliosis don’t always display the same symptoms. Here are a few common symptoms you can look for at home: One shoulder blade juts out more than the other Ribs stick out more prominently on one side Tilted or uneven shoulders—may make clothing appear crooked Uneven waistline or hip bones—can make pant legs appear uneven Your child’s head doesn’t appear centered with the rest of the body What causes scoliosis in children? Scoliosis appears in thousands of children and is determined by your child’s genetic makeup. External factors such as injury, heavy backpacks or bad posture do not cause scoliosis. The most common type of scoliosis is known as idiopathic, which means there is no definite cause of the condition. Idiopathic scoliosis typically runs in families, affects girls eight times more often than boys, and is often detected just before or during a child’s adolescence. A child may be born with scoliosis—called congenital or infantile scoliosis—and can change as a child grows. For some kids, the curve becomes straighter on its own. For others, the curve becomes more pronounced, and treatment is needed. Some children develop scoliosis later in life due to another health condition—such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. This is called neuromuscular scoliosis. Sometimes neurological or muscular diseases can cause weakness or imbalance in the spinal muscles, which raises the risk of developing a curved spine. Possible causes include: Differences in leg lengths Infection Inherited conditions Injury Nervous system problems like cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy Tumors Although the exact cause is usually unknown, scoliosis can run in families. So, if one of your children has scoliosis, it’s a good idea to have their siblings screened for it. Trust LuskinOIC’s Scoliosis Center to help your child stand tall. LuskinOIC’s Scoliosis Center has the expertise and leading-edge technology to diagnose, manage and treat your child’s scoliosis—whether the curve is mild and just needs monitoring, or severe enough that surgery is the best option. Our dedicated team at LuskinOIC Scoliosis Center is ready to provide: Diagnostic testing—including low-radiation X-rays and 3D imaging software Ongoing monitoring for mild curves Bracing for moderate curves Growth-friendly treatment for young patients with scoliosis Surgery for severe curves Follow-up care during and after recovery Access to physical therapy Tailored scoliosis treatment plans at LuskinOIC Dr. Scaduto and the experts at LuskinOIC create a treatment plan that’s tailored to your child’s unique needs. In milder cases, we may simply monitor the spine to make sure the curve doesn’t worsen. More severe cases may require treatment to prevent your child from developing issues with breathing or heart function. This could include bracing or surgery. As children grow, the severity of their scoliosis can change. If the curve increases, treatment may become necessary. That’s why it’s important to have a physician regularly check your child’s spine. The 3 main scoliosis treatment options are: Monitoring – If your child’s spinal curve is less than 25 degrees, we may recommend appointments every 6 to 12 months to monitor the spine. We’ll also schedule follow-up X-rays to make sure the curve doesn’t increase as your child grows. Bracing (Scoliosis & Kyphosis Bracing) – Bracing is often used to treat children and teens whose scoliosis is between 25 and 45 degrees. While it may not correct the curve in your child’s spine, bracing can stop the curve from getting worse. Our custom-designed braces allow as much movement, comfort and flexibility as possible. We also offer an innovative bracing treatment for younger patients called a Mehta cast. Surgery – If your child’s spinal curvature is 45 degrees or more, or if bracing doesn’t help, we may recommend surgery. Unlike monitoring and bracing, scoliosis surgery—called spinal fusion—can correct the curve and prevent it from returning or worsening. Surgeons at LuskinOIC will realign the curve, then fuse the section of straightened vertebrae. Once fused, that part of the spine will no longer grow. The fused vertebrae will heal together as if they are 1 bone. Our surgeons are highly skilled in complex procedures, including: Anterior, posterior and interbody spinal fusion: Spinal fusion is surgery to permanently connect two or more vertebrae in the spine, eliminating motion between them. This surgery is often used for children with scoliosis. Cervical spine surgery: Cervical spine surgery is a type of neck surgery that involves removing a damaged disc to relieve spinal cord or nerve root pressure. Growing rods (MAGEC): MAGnetic Expansion Control (MAGEC) is a surgical treatment for early-onset or idiopathic scoliosis. During the procedure, magnetic rods are implanted. After, an external remote control is used to adjust the rods to help minimize the progression of scoliosis and minimize the need for repeat surgeries. Lumbar spine surgery: Lumbar spine surgery is a type of surgery used to treat compressed nerves in the lower (lumbar) spine. It is often used to treat scoliosis. Titanium rib procedure (VEPTR): Vertical expandable prosthetic titanium ribs (VEPTR) is used for the treatment of childhood deformities of the thorax. Recovering from scoliosis surgery and scoliosis management Every child’s recovery is unique, but generally they will return to all normal activities—including contact sports—in 6 to 12 months. Children under the age of 3 may undergo serial casting to correct scoliosis. A special traction table is used when applying a cast. Casts are changed every 3-4 months Treat and Manage Your Child’s Scoliosis Conclusion Young patients with large or progressive curves may require an implant that controls the curve, while still allowing the spine to grow. We use magnetically-controlled growing rods (MAGEC rods) to lengthen the spine without general anesthesia. LuskinOIC is here to help with every step of your child’s scoliosis. Request an appointment today to see one of our experts. Learn more at our Scoliosis Center.
LuskinOIC And Rapiscan Offer Patient Care Clinics In Mexicali Posted on December 3, 2024April 16, 2025 by esw LuskinOIC’s International Children’s Program continues its vital work of providing free, high-quality orthopaedic care to children in need in Mexico. Established in 1962, the program offers specialized treatment through clinics at the US/Mexico border, ensuring that children receive world-class care regardless of their financial background. On November 15, Dr. Silva, LuskinOIC chief medical officer, and his medical team offered a successful clinic at Mexicali General Hospital, where children and families received much-needed support. Sponsored by Rapiscan, the clinic extended critical medical services to dozens of children in need. Rapiscan is honored to play a part in supporting these life-changing initiatives; their partnership with LuskinOIC strengthens this mission, making advanced orthopaedic treatment accessible to children who would otherwise go without it. Together, we are enhancing pediatric orthopaedics by prioritizing exceptional patient care.
The Charitable Children’s Guild Matches Up To $10k Posted on December 23, 2024May 1, 2025 by esw Since 1911, the Charitable Children’s Guild (“the Guild”) has been a valued, reliable partner to LuskinOIC in countless ways—from providing volunteer hours to critical financial support, and more. The Guild has always answered the call and this season their generosity can make a huge impact—with your help! In partnership with LuskinOIC, the Guild has unanimously voted in favor of an end-of-year challenge: Calling on all of our donors to step forward and make a gift as we close out 2024. The first $10,000 contributed will be doubled by the Guild! This challenge will run until December 31, 2024. LuskinOIC is so fortunate to have such dedicated support groups. For decades, the members of the Guild and its auxiliaries continue to come through for our kids and their families. Every gift we receive helps LuskinOIC provide prosthetics, surgeries, rehabilitation, and so much more at no or little cost to so many families—you truly make a difference. The Guild challenges you to give this year-end!
Frank P. Winnie’s $100K Gift: A Life-Changing Legacy Posted on December 19, 2024May 1, 2025 by esw Frank Paul Winnie was thoughtful and forward-thinking when he left a gift in his estate plan to LuskinOIC. He believed in LuskinOIC and the mission to ensure that all children have a chance to live fuller, healthier lives. Recently, Mr. Winnie’s estate plan came to fruition, and we received a distribution of just over $100,000 to support the LuskinOIC Care for Kids Fund, which is our greatest need, supporting various departments within the Institute. As you may know, our goal is to provide the highest quality care regardless of a family’s financial circumstances. This is so important, as 85% of our patients are uninsured or under-insured, and each year we’re seeing a growing number of patients—we’re currently up to nearly 60,000. Among those patients, we’re averaging more than 30,000 casts, 15,000 braces, and an increasing number of visitors to our Pediatric Urgent Care Center. Legacy giving helps to ensure that support continues to help the children and families who need it most. We are so grateful that Mr. Winnie planned for the future in a way that allows so many kids to benefit from his generosity. If you are interested in learning more about our legacy society, please contact Mary Beth Perrine at mperrine@mednet.ucla.edu
Reflections On The Spirit Of Community Posted on December 16, 2024May 1, 2025 by esw My name is Genavieve, and I recently spent four weeks at the LuskinOIC Foundation as part of the Marketing Team, exploring ways LuskinOIC could connect with the Olympic and Paralympic Games while supporting other marketing initiatives to spotlight staff and events.This experience was part of the Coro Southern California Fellows Program in Public Affairs, a full-time fellowship designed to equip emerging civic leaders with the skills to make a meaningful impact in their communities and organizations. During my time here, I gained invaluable insights into nonprofit healthcare, the inner workings of a foundation, and how to uplift children of all abilities. At LuskinOIC, community is part of everything we do. I saw the power of community in the eyes of our trick-or-treaters at Spooktacular, filled with wonder and excitement. I saw it at our Company Health Fair, watching doctors and interns alike enjoying smoothies and excitedly showing off their newly potted succulents.I saw it in Craig Ehrlich — LuskinOIC board chair, Coro Southern California honorary board member, Fellows Program in Public Affairs alumnus, and 2024 Coro Alumni Impact Award Honoree — who graciously invited me and the other Coro Fellows to his home for conversation and a home cooked meal. Community was present among our staff as we celebrated Ezra Frech’s victory in the 2024 Paralympics, and among our dedicated volunteers who spend countless hours to keep LuskinOIC moving. And of course, I see it in the generosity of our donors, who continue to make our work possible year after year so they can see the children of our community thrive. From pro bono care for children around the world, to supporting adaptive sports, to training the next generation of doctors—the more I learned about LuskinOIC, the more I saw this golden thread of community. Everyone in the LuskinOIC family cares so deeply about the people around them, and about making a difference for children. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder at 15, and after spending my teenage years in and out of emergency rooms, I had grown cynical about the healthcare system and its exorbitant costs. I thought it was beyond fixing. But community changes the game. LuskinOIC is a place of joy and love where all patients are met with compassion and kindness. As I leave LuskinOIC, I take with me a profound hope for the future of healthcare and a commitment to serving my community every day. To the LuskinOIC team: thank you for inspiring me, for giving so many children a brighter future, and for showing me what’s possible when community is at the heart of everything.
Learn About Our Life-Changing Treatment For Clubfoot Posted on December 12, 2024May 1, 2025 by esw At LuskinOIC, we provide specialized, expert care for children with clubfoot, a common but treatable congenital condition that affects the foot’s positioning. Our pediatric orthopaedic specialists, with extensive experience and training, offer world-class treatment through advanced methods like the Ponseti technique, which is known for its high success rates in correcting the condition. This non-invasive, gentle approach involves a series of casts and, when necessary, minor surgery to restore the foot’s proper alignment, allowing children to walk and thrive without pain or limitations. Treating children in need for clubfoot not only transforms individual lives but also has a profound impact on the broader community. When children receive early and effective treatment for clubfoot, they gain the ability to walk, attend school, and fully participate in social and economic activities. This leads to increased opportunities for education and employment, helping to improve overall community well-being. By providing access to these life-changing services, LuskinOIC plays a key role in fostering healthier, more empowered communities—one child at a time.
Annual Spooktacular Brings Halloween Fun To Hundreds Posted on December 9, 2024May 1, 2025 by esw This year, LuskinOIC hosted its Third Annual Ozzie’s Spooktacular in Los Angeles, welcoming more than 500 guests for a night packed with fun and excitement. Attendees enjoyed a variety of activities including trunk-or-treating, pumpkin decorating, games, a costume contest, a haunted maze, and much more. The event also featured a 360-degree photo booth and a special appearance from the Los Angeles Ghostbusters, who brought their iconic Ectomobile for everyone to see. To end the festivities, a talented magician wowed the crowd with a mesmerizing performance—the perfect way to close out the celebration! This event was made possible through the generous support of our partners, including Starlight Children’s Foundation and community groups such as Charitable Children’s Guild, Las Madrecitas, Las Niñas, Las Amigas, Los Amigos, and La Cañada Flintridge Orthopaedic Guild. Their thoughtful donations of pumpkins, food, decorations, toys, goodie bags, candy, costumes, and more helped to ensure that every detail was perfect. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all of our volunteers, donors, and sponsors for making this year’s Ozzie’s Spooktacular a truly magical experience for everyone involved!