HJAR Jul/Aug 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  JUL / AUG 2024 43 Matthew Landrum, MD Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon Arkansas Children’s Hospital Collaboration extends beyond the sur- geons. Before deciding on a treatment plan, the surgical team meets with everyone in- volved in the patient’s care — pediatric anes- thesiologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, and others, depending on individual patient needs. This meeting ensures the entire team understands the child’s overall health and reduces the likelihood of unforeseen events occurring during and after surgery. It also provides a mechanism to ensure patient optimization before surgery and that all potential solutions receive appropriate consideration. The foundation of innovation Every healthcare institution has a mis- sion, vision, and guiding principles. Core values of safety, compassion, teamwork, and excellence drive approaches to everything from day-to-day maintenance to complex care. Those core values are the foundation for innovation. Emphasizing teamwork at all levels fosters the cooperation needed for successful multidisciplinary care. An organization’s pursuit of excellence means individual successes become the building blocks for collective success. Decades ago, Arkansas Children’s Hos- pital orthopedic surgeon Richard McCar- thy, MD, pioneered the Shilla procedure, a landmark in scoliosis care that permits spi- nal growth, manages deformity, and limits surgical intervention. Over the years, the process has been practiced, studied, and re- fined, leading to the use of sliding pedicle screws and the practice of post-operative bracing to improve outcomes. The drive to innovate and improve moti- vates pediatric orthopedic specialists to par- ticipate in research for congenital scoliosis, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, neuromus- cular and syndromic scoliosis, and more. Fostering a culture of innovation inspires orthopedic team members to learn from other experts. As part of multiple research programs, including the Scoliosis Research Society and Pediatric Spine Study Group, they share new findings and learn approach- es that may serve future patients well. They also use their knowledge to comfort and educate anxious family members. Parents and caregivers recognize and comment on the value of care teams who effectively collaborate and communicate with one another. Hearing different per- spectives empowers caregivers to make in- formed treatment choices and understand the most effective ways to support pediatric patients before and after procedures. Col- lectively, caregivers and providers from dif- ferent disciplines contribute to a virtuous cycle of innovation. n Matthew Landrum,MD, is a board-certified pediatric orthopedic surgeon atArkansas Children’s Hospital and an assistant professor in the department of or- thopedic surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Commonly seen comorbidities in patients with SMA include: • Scoliosis. • Low bone density, which causes an in- creased risk of fractures. • Chronic respiratory failure and recur- rent respiratory infections. • Structural heart defects and arrhythmia. • Gastrointestinal issues like constipa- tion and swallowing difficulties. • Endocrine disorders like diabetes and growth hormone deficiency. Anxiety and depression, which often af- fect those with chronic diseases, also im- pact SMA patients, further complicating treatment. Care for spinal deformities and other challenging orthopedic conditions requires specialized training. Five surgeons care for complex orthopedic needs at Arkansas Chil- dren’s Hospital; two provide surgical inter- vention for complex or early onset scoliosis, and three care for congenital and early-on- set SMA. Together, we perform one or more complex spinal surgeries each week. Each surgeon has a unique background, training, and distinct perspective. In organizations that nurture a culture of innovation, dispa- rate approaches and treatment philosophies benefit patients and providers. Members of the medical team learn from one another while increasing the overall quality of care delivered.