
Written by: MaryClaire Hudson
Photographs: courtesy of David's mom, Kimberly Scott
Fourteen-year-old David Scott loved playing defense on the junior varsity football team at Indian River High School, even though he suffered chronic back pain that would worsen after each practice. By the time the Chesapeake teen got home, all he wanted to do was go straight to bed. Yet even sleep was difficult due to his pain.
David had been diagnosed at age eleven with scoliosis, a condition where the spine curves sideways. Although the condition is most common in girls, 20 percent of individuals who have a relative with scoliosis will also develop the condition. So, the diagnosis wasn’t a complete surprise to David, as one of his siblings had the disorder.
David’s older sister Maleah had also been diagnosed with scoliosis at age eleven. She underwent successful bracing treatment and was able to avoid surgery, due in part to the timing of her bone maturation. Bracing is often the first line of defense against worsening spinal curves caused by scoliosis. When properly made and worn as instructed, a brace can often hold the curve in a partially corrected position, preventing progression of the deformity.
David’s doctor was Carl St. Remy, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at CHKD as well as medical director of the scoliosis and spine program, and CHKD’s chief of orthopedics and sports medicine.
David and his family discussed options with Dr. St. Remy and decided to try bracing first. He was prescribed a Boston brace, the most commonly used bracing system for scoliosis. But, due to the muscular imbalance in his back, he experienced feelings of tightness and pain that made it difficult for him to play football. And, as boys usually have a second growth spurt in their late teens or early 20s, David understood that his scoliosis could worsen as he aged.
Dr. St. Remy kept David and his family updated on the point that surgical intervention would be needed – usually when the curvature is 50 degrees or above. When David’s curvature reached that point, Dr. St. Remy recommended that he undergo spinal fusion. Although David was concerned that having surgery would impact his ability to play the sports he loved, Dr. St. Remy helped him focus on the long-term improvements to his quality of life that surgery could offer.
The family decided to schedule the procedure for March of 2024, with the hope that David would recover in time for the football season of his sophomore year. When it came time for the procedure, David spoke of relief: “I was nervous, but I was very chill about the whole thing. I had been waiting over a year for this surgery, so I was ready to get it done and live without constant back pain.”
On March 4, Dr. St. Remy successfully performed the five-hour surgery. The team used titanium and cobalt chromium implants to straighten the spine and bone graft to fuse it in place.
After surgery, David was eager to return to playing sports as soon as possible. During the healing process, his nurses and physical therapy team used this motivation to let David steer his progress in recovery. He was able to leave the hospital in three days and was back at school after only two weeks, instead of the usual four to six weeks.
“The hardest part about recovery is rebuilding strength. I felt weak, like I was starting from scratch. Every day I push myself a little further and see strength returning,” David said.
David, now 15, has already noticed a difference after his surgery. The procedure straightened his spine, making him instantly two inches taller. He’s sleeping better and feels more comfortable due to the absence of chronic pain. He was recently cleared for non-contact football conditioning.
“I definitely feel a lot more confident,” David says. “Before surgery, you could see the curve in my back through my shirt.”
David’s parents appreciate the great communication from the team at CHKD. “Everyone made sure we understood the details, what was coming next, and what to expect,” Kimberly said. “The staff is incredible. We love Dr. St. Remy.”
At a postoperative appointment a few weeks after his surgery, David and his mom ran into a friend from school in the waiting room who had a similar medical condition. “We were able to able to talk to him about our experience with David’s surgery,” Kimberly says. “We really recommend it; it really improved his quality of life.”