Moncton teen becomes first IWK patient to receive improved imaging technology

It’s been two years since 14-year-old Molly Johnston discovered she had scoliosis.

After noticing one of her shoulders was “sticking out,” her mother assumed it was a dance injury, as her daughter had been in an intensive dance camp that summer. But that was not the case.

Since her diagnosis, the Moncton, N.B., teen has experienced fatigue and noticeable back pain, which she’s pushed through to continue her love of dancing.

“As a parent, I don’t think you ever want to see your child in any discomfort,” said Marsha Johnston, Molly’s mother.

“We knew it was going to be tough, but I think just the experience of how hard physically and emotionally it’s been on Molly, it takes a toll.”

But things have taken a turn for the better after receiving spinal surgery last month.

Molly received care at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, and in the process, became its first patient to undergo surgery that used a recently improved 3D imaging machine, according to a news release from the children’s hospital.

It’s called an O-arm, and while the technology isn’t new, it’s been updated to improve efficiency, accuracy and patient safety.

“The machine can now scan essentially a patient’s entire spine all at once,” Dr. Kevin Morash, one of Johnston’s orthopedic surgeons, told CBC News.

This means screws can be placed with more accuracy along the spine during surgery.

Dr. Morash said another update is the addition of a pediatric radiation setting, which is a “70 per cent reduction in the amount of radiation a patient receives,” when images are taken during surgery.

The O-arm has only been at the IWK for a month, but Dr. Morash says it already has and will continue to allow surgeons to accomplish many firsts.

He said the main purpose of the machine is for scoliosis and pediatric spine surgeries, but it has also been used for pediatric pelvic surgery.

Recovering from surgery

Marsha Johnston says she was thrilled when she found out her daughter would have access to this new technology.

“The accuracy of it just gave us confidence, even more confidence,” she said in an interview.

She said “Molly has done amazing” in recovery and the family is looking forward to celebrating “every milestone.”

Molly said the surgery went well. The day after the surgery, when IWK staff had her up and walking, she said she noticed she was taller.

“I grew like 2½ inches and I literally was like, ‘I think my mom shrank’ because I stood up and I was taller than her,” she said with a smile.

After a hard start, Molly’s recovery has been going well the last few days.

She hopes to be back to school next week, but she’s most looking forward to getting back to dance this fall.

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