Scoliosis Awareness Month

Posted on June 12, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

June is Scoliosis Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, share stories, and advocate for early detection and treatment of scoliosis, a spinal disorder that causes an abnormal curvature of the spine resembling the letters “S” or “C”.

The most common type of scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis, which means the cause is unknown but is thought to be genetic. There are three types of idiopathic scoliosis:

Infantile idiopathic scoliosis- occurs from birth to three years old.

Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis- occurs from three to nine years old.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis- occurs from 10 to 18 years old.

Some other forms of scoliosis include:

Congenital scoliosis- when scoliosis is present at birth.

Neuromuscular scoliosis- when scoliosis is caused by an underlying systemic condition such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, spinal cord tumors, or paralysis.

Syndromic scoliosis- when a unique group of spine conditions causes scoliosis. The most common diseases that cause syndromic scoliosis are:

Marfan’s syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Neurofibromatosis

Prader-Willi syndrome

Arthrogryposis

Riley-Day syndrome

Scoliosis affects one in 40 children and up to one in three adults. Many have gone undiagnosed for years. That is why earlier detection is important, as it can lead to improved treatment options and a better quality of life.

There is a wide range of causes and ages at which scoliosis can occur. However, scoliosis may appear during the main growth years for children (years 10 to 12), which is the growth spurt period for children before puberty.

During this time, scoliosis will often present with the following symptoms:

One of the child’s shoulder blades is higher than the other.

The appearance of the child’s head is not centered on the rest of the body.

Uneven hips or one hip may stick out more than the other.

Pushed-out ribs

Difficulty breathing due to a reduced area for lung expansion.

Back pain and discomfort

When the child bends forward, it appears that the two sides of the back are at different heights.

The main goal for patients with scoliosis is to get an early diagnosis. Scoliosis is diagnosed when a pediatric orthopedist uses a physical exam and X-rays to diagnose early-onset scoliosis.

Scoliosis can be treated non-surgically and surgically. Some non-surgical treatments for scoliosis include:

Observation

Bracing

The Risser cast

Some surgical treatments for scoliosis include:

Spinal fusion surgery

The growing rod technique

Scoliosis is treatable, and the sooner a child is diagnosed, the less likely they will need surgery and the healthier they will be.

If you think your child may have an abnormal spine curvature, you can visit Flushing Hospital’s Pediatric Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, call (718) 670-3007.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Meet Our Doctors- Dr. Andrew Bi

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Flushing Hospital Medical Center is proud to introduce Dr. Andrew Bi, the newest member of our orthopedic surgical team.

Dr. Bi was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in East Lyme, Connecticut, and currently resides in Queens. He graduated from the University of Connecticut magna cum laude with honors. He then graduated from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine summa cum laude with Alpha Omega Alpha honors. He then completed his orthopedic surgery residency training at NYU Langone Orthopedics, where he served as Executive Chief resident. Dr. Bi later underwent subspeciality training at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in a sports medicine fellowship, where he served as assistant team physician for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Steel, and DePaul University.

Dr. Bi has received numerous awards for teaching, clinical care, and research, including the Ralph Lusskin Senior Resident Teaching Award, the Marian Frauenthal Sloane Clinical Research Award, and the Rush Annual Thesis Day Award.

Dr. Bi treats all aspects of orthopedic injuries with a special interest in the management of all shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee conditions, including, but not limited to robotic-assisted joint replacements for arthritis, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgeries for sports injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), meniscus, cartilage, rotator cuff, and labrum injuries, and the fixation of fractures. His current research efforts involve anterior cruciate ligament injuries, meniscal allograft transplantations, rotator cuff tears, hip arthroscopy, and orthobiologics.

Dr. Bi is excited to begin at the Medisys family at Jamaica Hospital, bringing with him a sports medicine subspecialization expertise, as well as his Chinese heritage, to take care of the diverse population surrounding the hospital.

If you are experiencing any conditions or injuries affecting your bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, you can schedule an appointment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. Please call (718) 670-5486.

Dr. Tips from Yan-Qun Sun, MD

Posted on June 14, 2017 by Joann Ariola

Yan-Qun Sun, MD is an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

Dr. Sun specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of injuries and disorders involving the musculoskeletal system, such as hip replacements, arthroscopic surgery, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, ankle and knee and congenital disorders.

With the summer at hand, it is more likely that you will participate in activities enjoyed in the great outdoors such as running, power walking and hiking. There is a risk of obtaining injuries while being physically active. One of the most common injuries that people achieve are ankle sprains. Dr. Sun would like to give you a few tips on how to identify and treat a mildly sprained ankle.

As Dr. Sun described, “An ankle sprain occurs when you have stretched or torn the ligaments in your ankle. This is often caused by making too quick of a movement, which forces the joint out of its normal position.”

Ankle sprains can range from mild to severe, depending on how much damage has been done to the ligaments. Typically symptoms include:

Swelling
Bruising
Pain
Stiffness or restricted range of motion
Redness or warmth in the area

If your symptoms are mild you can treat your injury by:

Applying ice- This will help in reducing swelling and pain.
Resting the ankle- This can be done by using crutches and keeping the affected leg elevated.
Taking over the counter (OTC) painkillers- OTC painkillers such as ibuprofen are effective in managing pain and swelling.
Applying compressions- Wrapping your ankle with adhesive bandages or wearing a brace will help reduce swelling and provide protection.

Typically mild sprains tend to last seven to ten days; however, if you are experiencing intense pain, abnormal swelling and are unable to place weight on your ankle, it is likely that your case is severe and needs immediate medical attention.

If left untreated severe ankle sprains can lead to chronic ankle instability, chronic pain and early onset arthritis. To reduce the risk of furthering your injury, schedule an appointment with your doctor if symptoms continue past 10 days.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sun at Flushing Hospital Medical Center call 718-521-4206.

When is the Right Time for Knee Replacement Surgery?

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Michael Hinck

If you are experiencing prolonged periods of knee pain or stiffness that makes it hard to perform simple everyday tasks, you may be a candidate for knee replacement surgery.

Knee replacement surgeries are often performed to treat patients who have suffered a serious trauma, but the most common reason for someone to need this procedure is to treat progressive osteoarthritis or other diseases that affect the knee joint. This procedure is usually a last resort and your doctor might recommend it only after all other forms of treatment or medications have proven unsuccessful.

Performed by an orthopedic surgeon, knee replacement surgery involves replacing some or all of the components of the knee joint with a synthetic implant, to repair the damaged weight-bearing surfaces that are causing pain. A total knee replacement surgery replaces all three compartments of the diseased knee joint. A partial knee replacement involves an implant in just one or two compartments of the knee, retaining any undamaged parts.

Minimally invasive surgery has revolutionized knee replacement surgery. Minimally invasive knee joint replacement requires a much smaller incision, which leads to less pain, decreased recovery time and better motion due to less scar tissue formation. The average hospital stay after knee joint replacement is usually three to five days.

Rehabilitation is almost always necessary after knee replacement surgery. The physical therapy you receive after surgery, whether in a sub-acute facility, an out-patient center, or in your home is an essential part of your healing process as proper exercise will prevent scarring, maintain muscle strength and joint stability. The frequency and duration of therapy varies from patient to patient.

Flushing Hospital’s team of highly qualified orthopedic surgeons performs over 1,500 procedures every year, including hundreds of minimally invasive knee replacement procedures. They also perform surgeries to repair hip fractures, fix broken wrists and ankles, as well as shoulder replacement surgery. For more information about the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Flushing Hospital, or to schedule an appointment to speak with a surgeon, please call 718-670-3135.