Blog | Page 17 of 159 | Boston Children's Answers

Novel procedure may bridge the treatment gap for symptomatic flexible flatfoot

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Joanne Barker | Clinical, Research

Tags: flatfoot, lower extremity, orthopedics, surgery

Most children develop arches in their feet by early adolescence. About 20 percent, however, have pes planovalgus (PPV), also known as flexible flatfoot. Most children with PPV can participate in sports and other activities without issue, but others have ongoing pain in their feet that limit function and activities. Until recently in the U.S., children ... Read More

Tagged: flatfoot, lower extremity, orthopedics, surgery

Finding a possible genetic treatment for rare arrhythmias

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Albert McKeon | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: arrhythmia, cardiac research, cardiology, cardiovascular genetics, congenital heart defect, heart, heart center, long qt syndrome, research

Variants in a gene that plays a key role in heart function can cause potentially life-threatening arrhythmia syndromes known as calmodulinopathy. Calmodulinopathy is rare and causes arrhythmias that are poorly treated by current options. Boston Children’s cardiologist William Pu, MD, believes he has found a promising custom genetic treatment: antisense oligonucleotides that deplete the disease-causing gene product. ... Read More

Tagged: arrhythmia, cardiac research, cardiology, cardiovascular genetics, congenital heart defect, heart, heart center, long qt syndrome, research

Born with congenital scoliosis, Thelma looks to the future

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Joanne Barker | Patient Stories

Tags: halo traction, orthopedics, scoliosis, spinal fusion surgery, spine division

Sixteen-year-old Thelma Alemnji probably enjoys student life more than most high school juniors. After all, up until last year, activities like drama club, debate club, and student government were out of reach. Born with severe congenital scoliosis and thoracic insufficiency syndrome, Thelma’s childhood and early adolescence were marked by regular hospital visits and frequent surgeries: ... Read More

Tagged: halo traction, orthopedics, scoliosis, spinal fusion surgery, spine division

‘We’re going to Boston’: Why Aydan’s family temporarily relocated for craniopharyngioma care

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: brain health, brain tumor, hydrocephalus, surgery

One evening in October 2022, 2-year-old Aydan Arguello arrived at Boston Children’s Hospital. It wasn’t a routine visit, but instead the final stop in an urgent journey from his home in South Florida. Months earlier, the toddler had been diagnosed and treated for a large brain tumor — but it was a related concern that led ... Read More

Tagged: brain health, brain tumor, hydrocephalus, surgery

Curbing blood cancers by teaching immune cells to kill mutant stem cells

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: blood disorder, cancer, stem cells

Blood stem cells, which give rise to all of our blood cell types, undergo a quality assurance process after they’re born. As the lab of Leonard Zon, MD, director of the Stem Cell Research program at Boston Children’s, has documented, immune cells known as macrophages interact with each newly born cell. They engulf and eat ... Read More

Tagged: blood disorder, cancer, stem cells

After a severe case of myelitis, ‘rockstar’ Maxwell is on the move

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: neuroimmunology, neuroinflammation

When Maxwell Lazarz’s mother, Jennifer, tells him he’s a rockstar, he just laughs and asks her what that means. But as this joyful almost-3-year-old zips around in his motorized wheelchair, cracking jokes and blowing bubbles, it’s clear that his mom is right. In fact, Maxwell has been defying expectations ever since he was diagnosed with ... Read More

Tagged: neuroimmunology, neuroinflammation

Making a change: After a second opinion for spina bifida care, Sydney is thriving

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: second opinion, spina bifida, urology

At almost 10 years old, Sydney MacKay is sassy, spunky, and wants to be as independent as possible. Because she was born with spina bifida, part of that desire for independence means being more involved in her own care. Although Sydney underwent a surgical procedure a few years ago aimed at helping foster that independence, ... Read More

Tagged: second opinion, spina bifida, urology

Full-family support sees Hannah and her parents through AVM surgery

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Katie Paradis | Patient Stories

Tags: arteriovenous malformation, cerebrovascular surgery and interventions center, child life, headaches

Nine-year-old Hannah from Vermont is passionate about skiing; not much keeps her off the slopes. In fact, not much slows her down or dampens her energy, period. So, when she experienced a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) last spring, she wasn’t sidelined long. Her parents, Katie and Rich, credit Hannah’s remarkable recovery to her vivacious spirit ... Read More

Tagged: arteriovenous malformation, cerebrovascular surgery and interventions center, child life, headaches

In cases of pediatric cervical spine instability, two attending surgeons are better than one

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Joanne Barker | Clinical, Research

Tags: complex cervical spine, neurosurgery, orthopedics, scoliosis, spine division

Cervical spine instability (caused by congenital deformity, trauma, or a tumor) can affect children in a number of ways: from chronic headaches to bowel dysfunction to severe mobility limitations. In many cases, misaligned vertebrae compress the spinal cord and surrounding nerves, causing neurological issues, which, if left untreated, can lead to long-term disability. Common indications ... Read More

Tagged: complex cervical spine, neurosurgery, orthopedics, scoliosis, spine division

Will people accept a fentanyl vaccine? Interviews draw thoughtful responses

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Nancy Fliesler | Clinical, Research

Tags: adolescent medicine, drug safety, opioids, substance abuse, vaccines

In 2022, more than 100,000 people died from opioid overdoses in the U.S., according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Roughly three quarters of these deaths involved fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid. Fentanyl-related deaths have spiked over the past decade, many of them occurring in people with no known history of opioid use ... Read More

Tagged: adolescent medicine, drug safety, opioids, substance abuse, vaccines