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Get to Know our SRH Staff: Molly McGuire, Research

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Molly McGuire, Research

by | Mar 26, 2019 | Spotlight

What is your role at the hospital? What do you do on a daily basis? 
My job involves working with teams of surgeon-researchers and coordinators all over the world to collect data about patients they treat for Perthes disease, a rare disease that impacts formation of the hip. We then study this information to understand the phenomenon of Perthes disease and help families. The organization is called the International Perthes Study Group. I help this multicenter research effort by coordinating legal, regulatory, communications and operational aspects of enrollment and data monitoring. I also recruit our own hospital patients for various Perthes-related research projects.  

What led you to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children? How long have you worked here?
I was an academic research coordinator at UT Southwestern. Prior to that, I was in Lima, Peru working on grant-funded research for the University of Pennsylvania and Tulane University. I have been at the hospital for one year, and I’m loving it!  

What do you enjoy most about Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children?
My co-workers and colleagues energize and humble me and are the best part of the job.  

What was your first job? 
I was a lifeguard during a shift no one else wanted – 5-9 a.m.in the morning.  

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I spend as much time as I can in the company of my dog, and I play on a recreational women’s soccer team.  

Three words to best describe you:
Studious, committed and adventurous  

What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?
Professor or CIA, can’t decide.  

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
I served in the Peace Corps.

Learn more about the research conducted in the Center for Excellence in Hip. 

Infant and Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Infant and Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

by | Mar 20, 2019 | Hip Disorders

In its highly regarded medical journal, Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) just published a review of current standards for evaluating and treating a condition often recognized in newborns and infants. The condition is called developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Dysplasia is a term that means poorly formed. It describes this condition well because one or both sides of the hip joint do not grow correctly as the child develops.

With later recognition of the condition, the treatment becomes more complex and may even require complex surgery. In order to minimize missed cases of hip dysplasia, the AAP recommends that pediatricians periodically screen for DDH during routine office visits from infancy until the child is walking.1 With effective screening, most cases are identified and managed during infancy, leading to complete correction of hip dysplasia and the development of normal hips.

Though this condition rarely requires surgery, Scottish Rite Hospital has a team of pediatric orthopedic surgeons focused on conditions affecting the hip. Corey S. Gill, M.D., M.A., sees these and other patients in his clinic in Frisco. Here are the top four things parents of newborns need to know and do:

  1. Know that DDH occurs in approximately 1% of children. Though the occurrence is low, early identification of these cases is important.
  2. Ask for an evaluation if your baby has one of the two strongest risk factors for DDH.
    • Delivered feet first (breech position)
    • Related to someone who has been treated or monitored for DDH
  3. If your infant is diagnosed with DDH, there is a greater than 90% chance of correcting the condition without needing surgery.  
  4. Learn how to properly swaddle. Many videos online teach “how to swaddle” your baby. Watch one of our hip experts demonstrate how to properly swaddle a baby and learn more about how swaddling can increase the risk of DDH.

When infants need treatment for hip dysplasia, our first line of defense is a Pavlik harness. The harness is generally worn for 23 hours per day for approximately six weeks, but it is removable for bathing. The harness keeps the legs flexed and rotated in the right position for normal development of the hip joint.  After treatment with a Pavlik harness, we use physical exams, ultrasound and X-rays to monitor growth and confirm the hip joint is developing properly.  Most children require no further orthopedic treatment after wearing a Pavlik harness.

Learn more about our treatment and research in DDH and other conditions affecting newborns.

1Yang S, Zusman N, Lieberman E, et al. Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. Pediatrics. 2019;143(1):e20181147
Preliminary Laboratory Testing Indicates Positive Outcome in the Treatment of Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Preliminary Laboratory Testing Indicates Positive Outcome in the Treatment of Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

by | Oct 11, 2018 | General News, Press Coverage

Washington, DC, October 11, 2018 –(PR.com)– The Legg Calve Perthes Foundation, in partnership with Dr. Harry Kim of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas has been selected to showcase preliminary laboratory results of this research at the 2018 National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD) annual summit. On October 15-16th, the annual NORD Conference will boast over 700 attendees. “This is truly an honor to both become a NORD member and have our laboratory findings shared with NORD attendees in the same year,” said Dr. Harry Kim, MD.

Kim and his research team consisting of Olumide Aruwajoye PhD; Thomas Wesley Mitchell; Michael Kutschke BS; Vishal Gokani BS; and Naga Suresh Adapala PhD surgically induced femoral head osteonecrosis in an experimental model of Legg–Calvé–Perthes Disease. For those unfamiliar, Perthes disease is a childhood hip disorder initiated by a disruption of blood flow to the ball of the femur called the femoral head. Due to the lack of blood flow, the bone dies (osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis) and stops growing. Perthes disease is one of the most common hip disorders in young children, occurring in roughly 5.5 of 100,000 children per year. Perthes disease usually occurs in children aged 4-10 years. Boys are affected about three to five times more often than girls. New cases of Perthes disease rarely occur after age of 14 years. There is no known cure today.

Kim and his team previous found high levels of an inflammation producing protein called interleukin 6 in the hip joints of patients with Perthes disease. Based on this finding, their research hypothesis was that anti-interleukin 6 therapy would improve chronic hip synovitis and promote bone healing in an experimental model of Perthes disease. Dr. Kim is the Director of the Center for Excellence in Hip Disorders at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. His commitment to returning children to their childhood is unfound, and has treated hundreds of Perthes Disease cases in children over the course of his 20-year career.

Findings conducted from this study were positive and significant, as this is the first study to investigate the effects of anti-IL-6 therapy on femoral head osteonecrosis. The results indicated both a decrease in hip synovitis score and significant increase in bone rebuilding. “More funding is needed to continue these research efforts to cure Perthes disease, and the partnership with the Legg Calve Perthes Foundation will help pave the way,” said founder, Colleen Rathgeber.

About Legg Calve Perthes Foundation
The Legg-Calve-Perthes Foundation is a national educational organization dedicated to helping adults and children living with Perthes, and providing support with the associated difficulties that often come with the Perthes diagnosis. The Foundation’s mission is to create a centralized support community to improve the research, education, and awareness of those diagnosed with Perthes.

Contact Information:
Legg Calve Perthes Foundation
Colleen Rathgeber
202-505-9360
Contact via Email
perthes.org

Read the full story here: https://www.pr.com/press-release/767208