Professor Kenneth Cheung, the President of the Scoliosis Research Society, today (Friday 19 May) paid a visit to St George’s to speak at a special symposium on the treatment of paediatric scoliosis deformity.

Professor Cheung, who became the first non-American President of the Scoliosis Research Society last October, currently heads up the prestigious spine unit at The University of Hong Kong.

He spoke to St George’s staff and attendees on the treatment of early onset scoliosis using the ground breaking new MAGEC (Magnetic Expansion Control) system.

The MAGEC system uses magnetic growth rods to treat scoliosis and avoids children with the condition having to undergo repeated surgeries, as well as the other physical and psychological risks that come with them.

The event was organised by St George’s Trauma and Orthopaedics department and saw consultants from across the UK attend the symposium. Consultants at St George’s Mr Timothy Bernard and Mr Darren Lui also spoke on the subjects of vertebral body tethering and the staged 350 fusion of double major curves in scoliosis.