A special event took place on June 12, on this day 3 researchers in the field of scoliosis treatment obtained their doctorates (PhD degree) in Utrecht under the supervision of professor René Castelein, professor Moyo Kruyt and dr. Tom Schlösser, all involved in the DSC.
Fabio Zaina, one of the founders of SOSORT (International Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment) and Sabrina Donzelli, current president of SOSORT, are internationally recognized experts in the field of non-operative scoliosis treatment, originally from Italy. Sabrina emphasized with her Thesis the importance of brace treatment and exercise therapy for scoliosis in young people, Fabio has conducted research into the beneficial effect of brace treatment and exercise therapy in elderly people with scoliosis. Both were showered with compliments for their work, which is based on careful registration via the Italian ISICO institute. During the ceremony, it was emphasized how important these registrations are for advancing knowledge in this field, and the wish was expressed that we in the Netherlands could also set up such registrations. This wish is a challenge for everyone involved in the treatment of scoliosis, the Dutch Scoliosis Center contributes to this by registering and following up all our patients as well as possible, also taking into account quality of life.
Third, Justin Lemans, currently in training as an orthopedic surgeon, received his PhD degree on a new concept for surgical scoliosis treatment. The Spring Distraction System (SDS) has been followed by him from the beginning in 2015 to the current situation, in which it has now been placed in more than 140 patients, and the good results (including quality of life) have been described by him. In addition, he described an even newer implant (Double Spring Reduction, DSR) and gave his vision of the future of surgical scoliosis treatment.
Prior to the promotion, there was a well-attended and interesting symposium in the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, where the researchers presented and explained their research.
Thos that are interested can request the dissertations in PDF format from René Castelein, supervisor and promoter of the research, via r.m.castelein@umcutrecht.nlGeinteresseerden kunnen de proefschriften in pdf vorm opvragen bij René M Castelein, begeleider en promotor van het onderzoek, via r.m.castelein@umcutrecht.nl’