First few Article Sentences
Diagnosed with early onset scoliosis, 5-year-old Jaden Ortiz smiled as he underwent his first spine-lengthening treatment at Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, California. “It feels like a massage!” he said enthusiastically. “It doesn’t hurt.”
Pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Michael Elliott, and Jaden’s parents sitting nearby, chuckled. “Well that’s good!” said Dr. Elliott as he continued to gently glide a hand-held magnetic device across the boy’s back.
Jaden, who lives in Reedley, became Central California’s first patient to receive the innovative treatment. Valley Children’s introduced the magnetic technology in August to improve the severe curvature of Jaden’s spine and avoid the need for repeated, invasive, spine-lengthening treatments. Conventional growing rods require eight to 10 spine-lengthening surgeries during a child’s growing years. After the initial surgery, the painless MAGEC (MAGnetic Expansion Control) device enables surgeons to straighten the spine gradually and noninvasively.