Last year the charity decided to fund a project to study the link between scoliosis and heart disease. It was carried out by Mr Terry Tsiridis, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and trauma surgeon at Leeds General Infirmary, in collaboration with Professor Michael Gatzoulis, a specialist in heart and respiratory disease in children at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London the project began in February 2008 and concluded in December 2008. The results of the study were subsequently presented to the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, a distinguished orthopaedic, clinical and scientific organisation. It is also to be published in a leading, peer reviewed, orthopaedic journal. The study represents a first class piece of research of considerable clinical importance in establishing the link between the two medical conditions.
A second project to quantify the burden of scoliosis surgery unfortunately did not proceed. Although the charity was prepared to fund half the project’s cost of £25,000 sponsors for the remaining £25,000 could not be found. YCSF continues to raise monies to finance important research projects. If you want to donate please contact Helen on 0113 3922881 or via email ycsfleeds@googlemail.com