What began as a seventh-grade science assignment developed into internationally-recognized research that could change the way orthopaedic patients are screened before surgery.
As part of their science curriculum, students at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic School were asked to design a research project that would test a hypothesis and explain their research findings.
Laura Burnett and Erin McClellan wondered if people in the Midwest had enough Vitamin D3, which is necessary for people to absorb calcium and maintain healthy bones. The girls were curious whether, as more people use sun screen or avoid the sun, they are missing out on the natural absorption of the vitamin.
Erin's dad, Dr. John McClellan, is a surgeon at the Nebraska Spine Center, 13616 California St. In addition to adults, he also treats children, junior high age or younger.
He had noticed that his young patients were having more difficulty healing from sports-related spine stress fractures and that some patients had difficulty healing after spine surgery. He wondered if both sets of patients had adequate calcium and Vitamin D3.
When McClellan learned of the student science project, he asked the girls to collaborate.
Using McClellan's data, Laura and Erin compiled the information. McClellan then did the analysis, and he involved the girls in that, too. Kay Ryschon at the Nebraska Foundation for Spinal Research at the Spine Center also assisted.
The physician wrote an abstract and submitted it to the Scoliosis Research Society, for presentation at the 16th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques in Vienna this past July. The cover of the report carries all four names: the physician, the students and the researcher.
McClellan and Erin traveled to Vienna when the research was accepted for presentation.
Their hypothesis: “Vitamin D3 deficiency in patients undergoing elective spine surgery. Is routine preoperative screening indicated prior to spine fusion procedures?”
Their findings could change the pre-operative screening procedures for all patients undergoing spine surgery or suffering from spine stress fractures.
Vitamin D levels are not routinely checked before surgery. But the Nebraska Spine Center now recommends the check before any procedure.
If readings are low, patients can take a supplement for a time — and then heal better and enjoy longer term success after surgery.
And how did the girls do with their report? An “A+,” of course.
And their project was voted best at the school science fair.
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