Brain & Spine Center
Spine Program
The Pediatric Spine Program is a partnership between the University of Utah School of Medicine and Primary Children’s Hospital that provides high-quality care for all pediatric spine-related conditions and concerns. The program offers team-based care from nationally and internationally recognized experts who include orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, rehabilitation physicians, physical therapists, nurse practitioners, nurses, pain management specialists and behavioral health specialists.
Primary Children’s Hospital ranks among the US News Best Children’s Hospitals in the United States. The hospital is nationally ranked for Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery and for Pediatric Orthopedic care.
Patient & Family Resources
How to Refer Your Patient
Referrals can be submitted by email at PCHSpine@imail.org, by fax at 801-442-0857, or by phone at 801-662-1655.
Please include any imaging that has been completed. There is specific imaging preferred for the following conditions:
- Scoliosis—PA and Lateral Plain Films of the full spine (scoliosis film)
- Chiari—MRI of Brain or C-Spine showing the concern
- Cervical Stenosis— MRI of C-Spine
- Tethered Cord—MRI of L-Spine
Conditions and Treatments:
What to Expect
Before Your Appointment
After a referral is received by the Spine program, you will be contacted to be scheduled with the providers in Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) or Physical Therapy. The scheduler will provide information as to who the provider is you will see and at which location (if PT or Orthopedics). If your provider is requesting imaging prior to your appointment, this will also be explained and they will assist you in scheduling.
You may want to make a list of questions to ask your provider before the appointment, to ensure that all of your questions are answered.
During Your Appointment
- Once you arrive to your appointment, you will be asked to complete paperwork about your medical and family history.
- A medical assistant will measure your height and weight, and if necessary, our imaging specialists will take an X-Ray.
- A provider will talk to you and your parents, look at X-Rays and/or other imaging, and perform a routine examination.
- You and your provider will then review the next steps and make an individualized plan for your future care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I need to have surgery for my scoliosis?
The treatment course for scoliosis is based on how severe your curve is. This will be evaluated with your provider at each visit. They will be taking X-Rays with each visit to see if your curve is progressing or staying stable.
If I have scoliosis surgery, will I be able to live a “normal” life?
Yes. Immediately after surgery, there are activity restrictions you will need to follow, in order to help your body heal and the fusion bone to be created. Once those restrictions are released, usually at 6 months after surgery, you can do almost any activity that someone without a spinal fusion can do.
Are all of the X-Rays that I will get looking at my scoliosis, be bad for me?
All X-Ray procedures take place at Primary Children's Salt Lake City hospital and are performed by pediatric imaging specialists. There is always a little bit of radiation exposure each time that an X-Ray is taken. Your providers recognize this and try to only get pictures that are necessary. The orthopedic department has also added a new X-ray machine to their office called an “EOS Imaging machine” that delivers a very low dose of radiation, about 7 times less than a normal X-Ray.
Do I have to wear my brace 24 hours per day?
No. Based on a study that was completed by the National Health Institute (NHI), it was found that patients experienced the most optimal results with bracing, when the brace was worn 16-18 hours per day. Most kids chose to wear the brace and night and during school, which allows them to take it off to be active when out of school. However, you will need to decide what the best wearing schedule is for you!