3D model of Hunter ’ s spine . ( actual size )
MULTIDISCIPLINARY SPECIALTIES FEATURED :
A Spine the Size of Your Hand
Orthopedics
Neurology and Neurosurgery
Anesthesiology Plastic Surgery Rehabilitation
Hunter Peters ’ spine looked more like the toy model of a twisting rollercoaster track than a 3-year-old ’ s backbone .
Sumeet Garg , MD , pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Children ’ s Hospital Colorado , holds a 3D model of it in his palm , demonstrating the significance of the 90-degreeplus curve .
“ That ’ s definitely pushing it ,” Dr . Garg says , turning it in his hand , examining the complicated twists . “ That ’ s as small as we could probably go .”
To imagine operating on a spine that small is daunting , and some hospitals might not have done it . Because of Hunter ’ s small stature , the risks for bleeding , paralysis and infection were big , especially because the spinal cord was being compressed . A spine that small often can ’ t support the screws needed to stabilize the spine for reconstruction . Surgeons prefer to let kids grow bigger before operating .
But Hunter ’ s spine was compressing his spinal cord . Dr . Garg and his colleague ,