Hope Williams

Dr. Colombo
UWRT 1104
21 February 2017
Research Question: How much of an Impact is Scoliosis on an individuals life?
Research Journal Entry #1
Citation:
Kusumi, Kenro, and Sally Dunwoodie. The Genetics and Development of Scoliosis. New
York, Springer, 2010, pp. 31-35.
Main Claim:
1). The spine serves three vital functions: protecting the spinal cord and spinal nerves,
transmitting the weight of the body, and providing a flexible axis for movements of the head and
the torso. The vertebral column is capable of extension, flexion, lateral flexion (side to side), and
rotation. ( Kusumi, 31)
2). Paraphrase: People cannot function properly without the vertebral column or your spinal
cord. The spine protects three main vital functions in the body. It is necessary for movement.

Summary:
The vertebral column is supported by surrounding muscles in your back, but are essential in
keeping your spine standing straight up. Since the spine serves three vital functions; protecting
the spinal cord and spinal nerves, transmitting the weight of the body, and providing a flexible
axis for movements of the head and torso. The vertebral column is what allows the body to be
flexible. The cervical curvature which develops during infancy is what keeps the head sitting
upright. The origins of the vertebral column are two rods of paraxial mesoderm that fill in the
space on either side of the neural tube at the time of gastrulation. Beginning at 20 days post
coitus paraxial mesoderm undergoes segmentation in a rostral to caudal direction to form 4244
pairs of somites, which can be subdivided into 4 occipital, 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5
sacral, and 810 coccygeal somites

Evaluation:
The information provided in the book The Genetics and Development of Scoliosis relates to my
topic on Scoliosis. It talks about the vertebral column which is essential for the spine to stay in
your back. This article is not up to date it is 7 years old. But it has not been republished. This
information was made for everybody to better educate themselves on Scoliosis.
Quotations:
1). The spine serves three vital functions: protecting the spinal cord and spinal nerves,
transmitting the weight of the body, and providing a flexible axis for movements of the head and
the torso. (Kusumi, 31)
2). The vertebral column is capable of extension, flexion, lateral flexion (side to side), and
rotation. However, the degree to which the spine is capable of these movements varies by
region. (Kusumi, 31)
3). The first occipital and the last 5 7 coccygeal somites disappear during embryonic
development. Each somite will differentiate into four cell lineage-specific compartments that
contribute to the vertebral column and associated musculature. (Kusumi, 32)

Research Journal Entry #2

Citation:
Emans, John B. Scoliosis: Diagnosis and Current Treatment. 20 Feb. 2017, pp. 11-14.

Main Claim:
1). Brace treatment of scoliosis remains the standard by which all other treatments are
measured. There is a long history of attempts to control scoliosis by external support since the
time of Hippocrates (Emans, 12).
2). Paraphrase: Ever since Hippocrates the back-brace treatment has been the best treatment to
tackle Scoliosis. There are many different types of back braces that people can where. To
determine if someone must wear a back brace is by the curvature of the back. If the curve is not
bad, then usually people do not resort to back braces.

Summary:
Back braces are a very efficient thing for people with Scoliosis that have a very bad curve
in their lower back. Not everyone person has to wear a back brace. But if a certain person has a
curve of forty to fifty degrees the back brace usually does not work they have poor results. So, at
that point surgery is a must. Usually people with twenty degree curves do not need treatment.
The back-brace applies pressure on the skin, muscle and ribs causing it to straighten the spine.
Any different types of back braces exist; The Milwaukee and The Boston are two very common
ones. The Milwaukee brace is used for an upper thoracic curve. A typical patient shows an
average of fifty percent improvement by wearing the back-brace daily.

Evaluation:
This is a very reliable source. Dr. Emans graduated from Harvard medical school and now works
as the director of spinal surgery at the Boston Childrens Hospital. He is also a professor in
Orthopedic surgery. This book was not up to date but it was only 9 years old. This related to my
topic in that it discussed the types of back braces and why certain people have to wear them and
why some people do not have to wear back braces.

Important Quotations:
1). A typical patient shows an approximate 50 per cent improvement in curvature while initially
wearing the brace and with further growth and time generally shows mild progression from that
initial improvement (Emans, 14)
2). The Milwaukee brace introduced by Blount and Schmidt in the late 1940s has undergone
substantial modification over the years but remains the standard to which all other braces are
compared. The Boston bracing system and similar braces have been used widely in the last two
decades with equal success (Emans, 13)
3). There is a long history of attempts to control scoliosis by external support since the time of
Hippocrates. (Emans, 12)

Research Journal Entry #3

Citation:
Aebi, Max. The Adult Scoliosis. Springer Link. 20 Feb. 2017, pp. 3-6.

Main Claim:
1). Type 1 scoliosis: the primary degenerative scoliosis. The primary degenerative
curve develops mostly on the grounds of primarily limited disc degeneration in one
or more motion segments. This curve also could be termed discogenic curve
(Aebi, 3)
2). Paraphrase: There are three different types of Scoliosis: type one, two, and three
a and three b.
Summary:
Type one Scoliosis or Primary Degenerative Scoliosis. This curve also could be termed
discogenic curve and is basically the result of an asymmetric degenerative change of the disc
with the consecutive development of a frontal deviation and concomitant rotation with the facet
joints on one side as a pivot. Type two Scoliosis or progressive idiopathic scoliosis in adult life.
This is where the idiopathic curves join with other curves of secondary degeneration depending
on if it had been surgically treated or not. Type three Scoliosis or Secondary Degenerative
Scoliosis this can occur within or outside of the spine. Outside scoliosis is a result of the hip
being off centered. Scoliosis that occurs outside of the spine is also a result of bone deformity or
some type of illness. Osteoporosis is one example of a bone deformity that can cause outside
Scoliosis.

Evaluation:
This article did not have a publication date and was a very confusing and difficult to understand.
When I search for the author Max Aebi, nothing came up for him which indicates that he may
have made some of this article up. Personally, I do not see this article as a credible source in that
when searching for the authors name there is no indication of the author having a PhD or
anything of that sort.

Important Quotations:
1). There are obviously curves that only develop in adult life and may appear like idiopathic
scoliotic curves; however, upon closer look, they rather may have developed on the basis of a
degenerated disc. (Aebi, 3)
2). The idiopathic curves and curves with other aetiology of secondary degeneration present
themselves in a variety of forms, depending on whether these curves have been treated non-
surgically or not at all or whether they have had a fusion. (Aebi, 4)
3). The most frequent cause for a secondary deformity due to metabolic bone disease is
osteoporosis. (Aebi, 5)

Research Journal Entry #4

Citation:
Patel, Vikas. Spine Surgery Basics. Heidelberg, Springer, 2014,20 Feb. 2017, pp.20-22.

Main Claim:
1). The spinal cord is the conduit for motor and sensory impulses between the
brain and the rest of the body (Patel,20)
2). Paraphrase: The spinal cord is an essential part of the back without it people
would not be able to use parts of the body properly.

Summary:
The spinal cord is divided into two different segments depending on the root of the segment. The
two segments include Anterior and Posterior roots. Without the spinal cord the body and brain
would not work correct, because the brain sends sensory impulses to all of the organs in the
body. Another key factor for understanding the spine is the Neuroanatomy. The cross-sectional
anatomy of the spinal cord is similar to the region of the spinal cord, with a little bit of variations
in the diameter of a cord. In the cross-sectional anatomy, there is a central H shaped grey matter
containing spinal nerve cell bodies, dendrites and short interneurons also an outer white matter
made up of bundles of spinal tracts, and blood vessels. The white outer layer contains fibers that
are divided in three different forms.

Evaluation:
Dr. Vikas Patel is a well-known dermatologist in the Raleigh area. He graduated from Duke
Medical school in 2000. This is a credible source because it relates to my topic. It talks about the
two different segments that make up the spinal cord. This is important to know because everyone
needs there spinal cord, because this helps to send sensory impulses to the brain and from there
to the other organs. This source was published in 2014. Which indicates it is 3 years old so not
exactly up-to-date.

Important Quotations:
1). The spinal cord is divided into segments, corresponding to the relevant exiting
nerve root. (Patel, 20)
2). Despite the fact that there are only seven cervical vertebrae, there are eight
cervical nerve roots. (Patel, 20)
3). The white matter contains ascending, descending and intersegmental or
connecting fibers and is divided into three main columns. (Patel, 22)

Research Journal Entry #5

Citation:
Vieweg, Uwe, and Frank Grochulla. Manual of spine surgery. Berlin, Springer, 2012, 20 Feb.
2017, pp. 17.

Main Claim:

1). In recent years, two trends have developed in spine surgery. These are minimally invasive
and / or less invasive spine surgery ( MISS and LISS ) and non - fusion technology(Vieweg, 17)
2). Paraphrase: Minimally Invasive and Less Invasive Spine surgery is two different options for
spinal surgery. Minimally invasive is used to tackle trauma from surgery.

Summary:
There are two types of spinal surgery; one is Minimally Invasive and the other is Less Invasive.
Minimally Invasive surgery is supposed to reduce trauma after surgery. Minimally Invasive
surgery operates by cutting a small incision into the spine with a microscopic visual. Minimally
Invasive and Less Invasive surgery as both very quick, and efficient. The advantages is little to
no blood loss, a small incision, and little to no pain. Some people have to undergo a surgery
called a spinal tap. Instead of going through this painful surgery doctors have started using a non-
fusion technique instead. This eliminates pain from your spinal disc. The people that undergo
spinal tap can have a very successful surgery but the discs in the back later start to cause pain
later in life.

Evaluation:
The author of the book Manual of Spine Surgery has many published books but he does not
seem like an accredited author. This book was published in 2012 which indicates that it is five
years old. This book does relate to my topic because it discusses the two types of surgery people
can undergo. The Minimally Invasive surgery is for sure the best option to go because it is little
to know pain and it is an outpatient thing.

Important Quotations:
1). Minimally invasive techniques have given rise to a whole new range of technology aimed at
reducing surgical trauma. (Vieweg, 17)
2). MISS and LISS are gentle, quick, efficient and economical. The advantages are low blood
loss, small skin incisions, reduced post-operative pain, minimal damage to skin and muscles
(Vieweg, 17)
3). Non-fusion techniques aim to provide stabilization while maintaining the mobility and
function of the spine and eliminating the pain caused by the damaged spinal disc (Vieweg, 17)