Children across Canada are experiencing excessive wait times to see specialists and receive necessary treatment, according to a recently published report. The report, focusing on delays in scoliosis surgeries, highlights the potential long-term impacts on children and the healthcare system. It reveals that four out of ten children undergo surgery after the recommended wait time of six months. The report also reveals significant variation in delayed surgical treatments, ranging from 13% in Alberta to 68% in Nova Scotia, although comparable data across different jurisdictions is limited.
The most prevalent form of scoliosis among teenagers, known as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), affects approximately 2% of teens. It primarily affects teenage girls, with seven times more girls than boys being afflicted. Severe curvature of the spine can result in painful deformities. Surgical intervention involves fusing the curved section of the spine using two titanium rods to prevent further curving. Delays in surgery can lead to more complex and riskier operations and extended hospital stays for children.
According to the report by the independent research organization, there are currently 2,778 children in Canada awaiting spinal surgery. However, a shortage of healthcare providers often causes delays in these operations. The report recommends increased funding to hire additional pediatric surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists. It also suggests the adoption of a pooled referral system to create a centralized waitlist, allowing the first available surgeon to take on patients.
Emily Gruenwoldt, CEO of Children’s Healthcare Canada, which commissioned the report, expressed concern about the lack of data on the number of children waiting to be referred to specialists before undergoing surgery. She emphasized the negative impacts of delays on children’s development and called for improvements in the healthcare system.
Kandra West-Pettigrew from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, shared her daughter Madison’s experience with scoliosis surgery. Madison underwent surgery in July 2020, a year after seeing a surgeon at the age of 14. The emotional toll of the eight-hour operation was particularly challenging due to pandemic restrictions, which limited visitation. Madison had an S-shaped curvature of 65 degrees and faced bullying from peers due to her spinal cord issue, leading to emotional and psychological distress.
Dr. Ron El-Hawary, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, revealed that 99 children were waiting for spinal surgery at Halifax’s IWK Health Centre. He explained that scoliosis surgeries primarily involve fusing the curved part of the spine and that the recommended surgery threshold is between 40 and 50 degrees. Severe cases at 80 degrees or more require longer, riskier surgeries and result in higher costs and resource utilization. El-Hawary emphasized the urgent need for an additional surgeon to address the prolonged waitlists in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Dr. Stefan Parent, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Sainte-Justine Children’s Hospital in Montreal, recounted the lengthy wait times for scoliosis surgeries in his facility. Children with AIS wait up to 18 months for surgery, while three-year wait times are not uncommon for those with neuromuscular scoliosis. Parent attributed the delays to staff shortages and lack of operating room availability, resulting in him performing only three surgeries per month. He stressed the importance of timely treatment for children during growth spurts to prevent further progression of scoliosis.
In conclusion, the report sheds light on the concerning issue of delayed surgeries for children with scoliosis in Canada. It calls for increased funding, the adoption of a pooled referral system, and the recruitment of more healthcare providers to address the lengthy wait times and improve the overall healthcare system for children in need.
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