Specialty Spotlight

Spine Center

Conservative approach
Our conservative approach saves surgery for only the most severe cases. Nonoperative management of scoliosis is the goal of the entire orthopedic team at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. We see more than 3,000 scoliosis patients each year. While we perform many scoliosis surgeries (more than 100 per year for the last several years), surgical patients make up only 3 percent of our total scoliosis visits.

Lower charges
Improved surgical techniques, an experienced group of inpatient nurses and early physical therapy have enabled us to shorten hospital stays and dramatically improve rehabilitation after spinal surgery. We also charge significantly less than the average of our peer hospitals* for spinal fusions.

Advanced imaging
Children's Hospital has installed an EOS low-dose radiation scanner, one of two in a pediatric hospital in the nation. EOS is able to obtain 3-D visualization of the spine with 1/1,000 the radiation dose of a CT scanner. It also uses 10 times less radiation than conventional X-rays. EOS allows for 3-D reconstruction of individual bone position, rotation and orientation.

A patient is positioned in the EOS low-dose radiation scanner.
A patient is positioned in the EOS low-dose radiation scanner.

Access
Allison Duey-Holtz, MSN, APNP, and Annette Husske, PA-C, each have more than 10 years of experience in pediatric spine care. They see new and follow-up patients with diagnoses of:

  • Spinal asymmetry.
  • Mild scoliosis.
  • Curves under 20 degrees.
  • Screening for scoliosis.

Quality
More quality information for our orthopedics program is available online at chw.org/quality.

Value
In one visit, your patients will have low-dose imaging with interpretation and a plan of care the same day. 

For Spine Center and EOS printable information sheet for your office staff, click here.

Contact us

Nurse line: (414) 266-2411
Patient appointments: (877) 607-5280
chw.org/orthopedics

*Pediatric Health Information System is maintained by the Child Health Corporation of America, a business alliance of pediatric hospitals from across the U.S. PHIS collects clinical and financial data from leading children's hospitals in an effort to support quality and outcomes improvement.