After a Lifetime of Scoliosis, Spine Surgery Patient Stands Tall
“Dr. Jankowski really understands and promotes the philosophy of
patient-centered care. His confidence is very reassuring,” she said.
“I am extremely grateful to Dr. Jankowski and his medical assistant,
Mileni Avalos for their outstanding patient care.”
Melanie Loscutov is walking taller these days. An entire inch and a half
taller. More importantly, after a lifetime of spinal degradation caused
by scoliosis, Melanie is also walking pain-free.
“I needed to have surgery for many years, but I didn’t feel
confident because it is a very significant surgery, and I knew it would
take a lot of recovery time,” said Melanie, 55, who is a pediatric
nurse practitioner at Hoag’s Mother-Baby unit. “I suffered
with back pain for many years. It got to the point where the pain was
becoming debilitating.”
Because Melanie’s scoliosis went undetected in her childhood, her
spine had been progressively curving throughout her life. An energetic
person – Melanie is a spin enthusiast and can outswim her kids –
she sought out a surgeon whom she could trust to help her preserve her
active lifestyle. Other colleagues at Hoag directed her to the Hoag Neurosurgery
Spine Program and scoliosis expert,
Pawel Jankowski, M.D., a neurosurgeon in the
Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute at Hoag.
“Dr. Jankowski was such a great teacher and patient advocate,”
she said. “He involved me in the decision-making in my treatment
plan and explained my treatment options in a way that was easy to understand.
He didn’t assume that just because I’m an experienced health
care professional that I should already know the answers to my questions.
He took his time, was always positive and encouraging and he really inspired
confidence.”
Melanie’s scoliosis measured 48 degrees (zero degree being a straight
spine). She underwent correction of her curvature by derotating her spine
through a multi-level spinal fusion and bone restructuring. The procedure
was complex, and Melanie was impressed by the way Dr. Jankowski consulted
a consortium of peers at the Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute about
his intended approach and made her feel confident about the surgery. She
said she also appreciated the way he listened to her concerns about scarring
and brought in plastic surgeon Donald Mowlds, M.D., to perform the suturing
and reconstruction of her muscles to ensure optimal muscle recovery and
minimize scarring of the surgical area on her back.
“Dr. Jankowski really understands and promotes the philosophy of
patient-centered care. His confidence is very reassuring,” she said.
“I am extremely grateful to Dr. Jankowski and his medical assistant,
Mileni Avalos for their outstanding patient care.”
The surgery immediately alleviated much of the pain Melanie had been experiencing
and has profoundly corrected her spinal curve.
“My discs were compressing on a nerve and the scoliosis was becoming
severe. I realized I would become debilitated if I didn’t have the
surgery,” she said. “I’m receiving physical therapy
through Hoag’s outpatient physical therapy services and I have to
say that every therapist has complimented how impressed they are with
the significant correction Dr. Jankowski was able to perform.”
Following the surgery, Melanie had to wear a brace for 10 weeks to protect
her back from twisting. And she has been doing physical therapy to retrain
and strengthen her muscles. She said her physical discomfort is gone,
her breathing has improved and she even looks thinner because she is standing
straighter.
“I was 5-foot-three inches before the surgery, and now I’m
back to five-foot-four,” she laughed.