For years, a now 36-year-old woman lived with a spinal curve that had continued to progress since her teens, accompanied by persistent back pain.

At the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), she became one of two patients to receive corrective scoliosis surgery at no cost during a two-day surgical programme with international non-profit organisation Back to Healing.

All specialised implants required for the surgeries were donated, removing a significant cost associated with scoliosis correction for both patients.

The surgeries brought UHWI’s clinical team together with visiting surgeons and other medical professionals for the assessment, planning and management of the two cases.

Founded in 2016, Back to Healing is a United States-based non-profit organisation focused on improving the quality of life of people affected by scoliosis through access to care, education, advocacy, empowerment, and mental health support.

The organisation also works closely with local surgeons, residents and fellows, combining treatment with clinical education and knowledge exchange.

Intraoperative fluoroscopic images provide surgeons with real-time views of the patient’s spine as the corrective procedure progresses.

Back to Healing is now in its third year of conducting its work in Jamaica and its second year working with UHWI.

Corrective surgery may be necessary when scoliosis continues to progress, causes persistent pain or begins to affect mobility and daily life. It requires detailed assessment, careful planning and specialised instrumentation.

The 36-year-old patient underwent spinal fusion with instrumentation to correct her progressive deformity.

Dr Carl Bruce, senior director, clinical services at UHWI, said the donated implants helped address one of the major financial barriers associated with this level of care.

“Corrective scoliosis surgery requires a significant level of expertise, planning and resources, and the implants themselves represent a major part of the cost.

“Having those implants donated meant we could remove that burden for these patients and provide the level of care their cases required. For us, the real value is ensuring that patients who need this kind of treatment have a pathway to receive it,” Dr Bruce said.

Consultant neurosurgeon Dr Peyton Lawrence was part of the UHWI clinical team that performed the surgeries alongside other local clinicians and visiting medical professionals.

BRUCE…corrective scoliosis surgery requires a significant level of expertise, planning and resources, and the implants themselves represent a major part of the cost

Dr Lawrence, who has played a key role in advancing complex spine surgery at UHWI, noted that each scoliosis case requires an individualised approach.

“No two scoliosis cases are exactly alike. You have to understand the deformity, how it has progressed, the symptoms the patient is experiencing, and what degree of correction can be achieved safely. Working with colleagues who treat these cases in different settings gives us an opportunity to compare techniques and perspectives, but every decision comes back to what will give that individual patient the safest and best possible outcome,” said Dr Lawrence.

Education and training were also an important part of the visit. The work began with an education day involving surgeons, residents and fellows, followed by opportunities for Jamaican trainees to work alongside visiting physicians, discuss techniques and ask questions throughout the surgical sessions.

Back to Healing founder and Executive Director Marcus John said training remains a major part of the organisation’s approach in Jamaica, with visiting physicians working directly with Jamaican residents and fellows to share techniques, answer questions and learn alongside each other.

Two scoliosis surgeries were performed at UHWI this year, following four cases completed at the hospital with Back to Healing during the previous year.

The initiative supports UHWI’s continued drive to expand access to specialised care and make more advanced treatment available to patients in Jamaica.