At our appointment about a year ago, her curve measured 56%, last October it was 72% and today it was 82%. Quite a dramatic progression, which the Dr explained by saying that Charlotta's body is growing overall, and that means that the more she should be growing up, the more she's growing sideways into a curve.
The Dr had said to us all along that she would probably end up needing surgery to correct her back, and today he gave us a date: April. Both Steve and I are glad that we will be getting it done sooner rather than later before the curve gets even worse and impedes her lungs and heart. A practical side of us is also glad it will be done in Spring so that she will be recovered for summer, as we usually have quite a few plans with camping, holidays, etc.
To straighten her spine, the surgery involves fusing together her vertebrae and then inserting a rod to keep them straight. One of the repercussions of fusing her spine together is that her back won't grow any more in the area that has been fused. She's only 4'8" now and having tall parents, I don't know how tall she was destined to be. But even though her spine won't grow anymore, the rest of her still will -- maybe she'll be all legs, not a bad thing for a girl :-). The Dr also said that immediately after surgery she should gain a few inches in height, simply by having her spine straightened out.
At today's appointment, I finally remembered to bring my camera because I wanted to show Steve (who wasn't there) how shocking the curve in her spine really is.
Charlotta's spinal curve over the period of a year (l-r):March 2010, October 2010, February 2011.
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