DENVER (KDVR) -- A breakthrough new procedure pioneered by a group of doctors in Colorado is offering new hope for some teenagers living with scoliosis.
Vertebral body tethering is a surgical treatment option for scoliosis in growing children whose scoliosis -- or spine curvature -- continues to progress despite wearing a brace.
This was the case for a 16-year-old California resident named Ava. For as long as Ava can remember, she's always had a passion for music, dance and cheerleading.
"It's very important. It's the only thing I've been doing my whole life, I love it so much," said Ava.
When Ava turned ten years old, her pediatrician noticed a curve in her spine and diagnosed her with scoliosis, the most common spinal deformity in school-aged children. It wasn't until Ava turned 14 that she recalled the growing pain in her back.
"My back would just be hurting a lot, so I wouldn't be able to do everything -- or do all the dances full out," said Ava. "... and I would have to take a lot of breaks and miss a lot of practices."
Doctors in California took a wait-and-see approach and recommended brace-wearing 12-24 hours a day, but Ava says, even after years of wearing different braces, her spinal curve continued to progress. One option for treatment was a spinal fusion, a common scoliosis operation that would have likely derailed her dance dreams due to limited mobility.
"So we looked for another option and that's when mom found Dr. Riley and we traveled to Colorado," said Ava.
Dr. Jaren Riley at HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children's in Denver is a leading expert in VBT- an innovative, motion-preserving surgery that offered Ava relief from the pain and a chance to keep dancing. In April, Dr. Riley operated on Ava and the VBT procedure was a huge success.
"I think this is going to be a great way for her to continue dancing, maintaining her range of motion and still keep the curve under control," said Riley. "Allowing her that range of motion while controlling the scoliosis is the best of both worlds."
Ava says she is grateful for Dr. Riley and the team of doctors at HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children's Hospital and is excited to return to the dance studio- pain-free - this month.