HJNO Sep/Oct 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS  I  SEP / OCT 2022 41 real time. After surgery, children quickly move to a floor with specialized nurses who are dedicated to each patient’s quick recovery. Dedicated recovery units provide set pro- tocols and nurses who are specially trained for recovery after surgery for scoliosis. The recovery team includes dedicated inten- sivists and monitoring to make sure each child is doing well and a dedicated pain team to make sure they remain as com- fortable as possible. The studied best practice of providing a team-driven approach to personal care leads to the safest and most successful care for patients of all ages, from healthy children to the most fragile patients, in a manner that is tailored to each child. It is an incredible responsibility when a fami- ly walks in the door for the first visit, and a coordinated team approach helps en- sure an optimal treatment plan for every child. n Tony Gonzales,MD,specializes in pediatric orthope- dics at Children’s Hospital NewOrleans.He received a medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham and completed residency training at Jackson Memorial Hospital/ University of Miami.He then completed a fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics at Scottish Rite Hospital inAt- lanta.Gonzales is certified by theAmerican Board of Orthopedic Surgeons and serves as the department head of Pediatric Orthopedics at Children’s Hospi- tal. When asked why he chose to practice pediatric orthopedic surgery, Gonzales said, “I enjoy helping young people get through difficult situations in their childhood and adolescence.”Gonzales sees patients at themain campus of Children’s Hospital in Uptown NewOrleans, Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center of Baton Rouge,and Children’s Hospital Northshore Center in Covington. Joseph “Tony” Gonzales, MD Service Line Chief of Orthopedics Children’s Hospital New Orleans trained physicians, nurses, pediatric anes- thesia, X-ray techs, and therapists to pro- vide the best care for children at all ages. In choosing a surgeon, it is important for parents to choose someone highly trained in the care of children — in the case of spine surgery, meaning a board-certified ortho- pedic, pediatric- and fellowship-trained surgeon who has knowledge in the latest techniques, guidelines, and studies to pro- vide the most appropriate and best-suited care plan for each child. STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE Whether the child is 2 months old or 20 years old, it is important to select a surgeon who is an active participant in national multicenter studies, discussion groups, and pediatric orthopedic and scoliosis research organizations to give families all the information and knowledge they need for any type of spinal deformity. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons who spe- cialize in treatment of scoliosis, among other childhood diseases, spend a signif- icant part of their off time continuously learning about how to be better at what they do. They have knowledge in casting for in- fantile scoliosis, the latest techniques in growing constructs for the growing child with a spinal issue, conservative treatment for lower magnitude curves, neuromuscu- lar scoliosis treatment, and the adolescent with idiopathic scoliosis. There is also a staged program for complex curves (also known as the Halo program) that need gradual correction over several weeks to provide a safe way to achieve an excellent result. CARE COORDINATION LEADS TO OPTIMAL RESULTS Teamwork is essential throughout the entire surgical process — before, during, and after each surgery. After a patient’s initial consultation, there is a team behind each physician that works to ease the par- ent’s anxiety and provide the best results possible for each patient. At Children’s Hospital New Orleans, for example, before any surgery is performed, the team meets monthly to discuss each child’s treatment plan. Just like a preflight checklist, we communicate the plan with the team, map out appropriate actions for all potential outcomes, and discuss with other physicians any potential compli- cations, how best to avoid these compli- cations, and potential alternatives to the treatment plan. THE SURGICAL EXPERIENCE During surgery, a dedicated team of in- dividuals who are experienced with scoli- osis treatment make the day as seamless as possible. From the more than 200 spine procedures per year performed on healthy children to our most fragile patients at Children’s Hospital, the team approach makes each patient’s care flow as smooth- ly as possible. During surgery, radiology techs use the latest C-arm imaging and navigation to provide the safest and most precise place- ment of instrumentation. Adedicated team monitors the electrical signals that move up and down the spinal cord throughout the procedure. With any deviation in that monitoring, surgeons are notified so that they can make the proper adjustments in