Are scoliosis cases in developing countries generally more severe due to a lack of preventative treatment?
I think it’s multi-factorial. So yes, some of it is that they are not screened and do not have the opportunity to wear a brace. Also, because they are not screened, they only come in when their scoliosis becomes so severe they have breathing difficulties, back pain, or an extreme deformity. With our charitable focus in developing countries, some of these adolescents, who would otherwise die or become immobilized, with severe back pain and breathing difficulties, are now able to seek care. They come from far and wide, and walk miles and miles in some cases. They scrounge up enough money to ride a bus or some form of travel to the city to seek out care. If there’s no one in the country able to treat these cases, patients are unable to receive any care. What techniques do you teach local doctors during your visits abroad? We have to teach local doctors the basics first, such as how to evaluate, take a history, and perform a physical exam. We explain the various problems associated with sc
