Ruled as the way Lexi was lying while the X-ray was being taken, Tracey and her husband came to forget about the curve. "We weren't concerned at the time," said Tracey. "We didn't know it was anything significant." Fast-forward to October 2004, 11-month-old Lexi was getting ready for a bath and her parents notice her rib cage is humped to the right on her back and her shoulders are not even. By January 2005, Lexi is diagnosed with Idiopathic Infantile Scoliosis. "We were given no treatment options, nor were we told it was anything to worry about," said Tracey. "We felt lost." Tracey immediately went online and tried to find as much information as possible about Idiopathic Infantile Scoliosis. What she found was a group called Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program, or ISOP, started by a mother in Colorado whose daughter battled severe scoliosis.

According to the ISOP Web site, www.infantilescoliosis.org, Infantile Scoliosis is a lateral spine deviation that occurs during a child's first three years. Approximately 74 percent of cases resolve on their own. Of the 26 percent that don't, scoliosis not only causes physical distortion but can also put internal organs in jeopardy if the case is severe enough. Physicians use a Rib Vertebral Angle Degree, RVAD, to measure the amount of curvature and severity of the scoliosis. According to the Web site, www.ahealthyme.com/topic/scoliosis, a normal spine, the rib-vertebra angle difference at any vertebra is zero.

"When Lexi was officially diagnosed in January 2005, her curvature was 22 degrees-they thought it would self-resolve. We were told to wait, and I knew we could not wait," said Tracey. "We had to get Lexi help." On the Web site, Tracey read about a treatment being done by two physicians with Shriners Children's Hospitals. One physician is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the other in Erie, Pa. Both are using a technique perfected by Dr. Min Mehta, of England. According to www.infantilescoliosis.org/, under general anesthesia, the child is straightened as much as possible and then placed in a plaster cast.

This will hold the spine in its corrected position for two to three months and then another cast will be placed and continue until the child is straight. In August of 2005, Lexi and her family traveled to Erie, Pa., for her first cast to be placed.Her curvature was measured at 38 degrees. Once the cast was put on, it was corrected to 13 degrees. In November of the same year, Lexi received her second cast and was able to continue at 13 degrees. Upon returning to Houston, the family had to learn to live life with a cast. "While challenging at first, we adapted as did Lexi," said Tracey. "This was worth the struggle, as we knew if left untreated, one day she would end up in an operating room having to have metal rods fused to her spine to straighten it. We would not let this happen." But life may have gotten a little easier for Lexi, thanks to Miguel Gomez from Dynamic and Orthotics & Prosthetics in Houston.

"We have a wonderful orthotist who is making her braces and has a very innovative approach to doing this," said Tracey. She went on to add, "His own daughter suffered from scoliosis and he knows the dangers if it is left untreated." Dr. Gomez obtained his medical degree in Colombia and makes prosthetics and orthotic devices in Houston. In January 2006, Lexi was put in a brace she wears 23 hours a day.

"Her curvature is now at 12 degrees and holding," said Tracey. It's unknown how long Lexi will have to wear the brace, but that hasn't stopped her, or her parents, from laughing and seeing the world through the hopeful eyes of a toddler. "Lexi loves a lot of things. Her main love is, honestly, shopping for shoes. She loves to dance like a ballerina and loves to spend hours on her art easel with her colors," said Tracey. "She loves to swim, which is great therapy for her back and helps strengthen the muscles in her back. She also loves the playgrounds and her brace does not keep her from playing like any other child." "The most important thing is this," continued Tracey.

"If your child is diagnosed with infantile scoliosis, early treatment is the key. With waiting comes the chance for the scoliosis to become more destructive. If you suspect your child may have a curvature, seek the opinion of a pediatric orthopedist, one who takes an interest or specializes in scoliosis. We were told to wait by ours and I did not agree. We fought about her treatment. I always fight for what is right with Lexi." lhart@hcnonline.com Interesting fact-According to the Web site, www.ahealthyme.com/topic/scoliosis, girls are more likely to develop scoliosis than boys. Children with Infantile Scoliosis can fall into two categories, Congenital and Idiopathic.Congenital means there is a structural cause for the scoliosis, like vertebrae abnormalities.Idiopathic means there is no known cause for the curvature. Web sites: www.infantilescoliosis.org www.scoliosis.org Dynamic Orthotics & Prosthetics in Houston.www.dynamicoandp.com Warning Signs According to the Web site, www.ahealthyme.com/topic/scoliosis, here are some things you should be looking out for:

*A child's shoulders may be uneven
* one or both shoulder blades may stick out * the waist may be lopsided
* the hips may seem unusually high, or
* The child may lean to one side.If you notice asymmetry, it's a good idea to have the doctor check it out.

©Houston Community Newspapers Online 2006