• Pediatric Spine Surgery
  Dr. Plachta provides comprehensive surgical care for children and adolescents with spinal conditions, from initial diagnosis through post-surgical recovery.
• Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT)
  A minimally invasive, motion-preserving alternative to spinal fusion for growing children with idiopathic scoliosis who haven't yet reached skeletal maturity.
• Spinal Fusion Surgery
  The gold-standard surgical treatment for moderate to severe scoliosis, using screws and a rod to permanently stabilize and correct the curve.
• Scoliosis and Spinal Deformity Correction
  Diagnosis and treatment of curvature of the spine in children and teens, ranging from observation and bracing to surgical correction depending on severity.
• Kyphosis
  Surgical and non-surgical treatment for excessive forward curvature of the upper spine in children and adolescents.
• Neuromuscular Scoliosis (Cerebral Palsy and Muscular Dystrophy)
  Specialized spinal deformity care for children whose scoliosis is related to an underlying neuromuscular condition, requiring a tailored surgical approach.
• Pediatric Spine Trauma
  Diagnosis and treatment of spinal injuries in children resulting from accidents or trauma.
• Complex and Revision Spine Surgery
  Advanced surgical correction for patients who need a second procedure after a prior spine surgery elsewhere, including cases referred from other practices or regions.

Fellowships

• Columbia University, 2020, Orthopedic Surgery

Residency

• St Louis University School of Medicine, 2019, Orthopedic Surgery

Internships

• St Louis University School Of Medicine, 2014, Orthopedic Surgery

Medical Education

• Chicago Medical School, 2013

Certifications

• American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery-Orthopedic Surgery of the Spine

Publications

Research

Professional Organizations

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Alpha Omega Alpha – Honors Medical Society
• Pennsylvania State Orthopaedic Association 
• Illinois State & Chicago Medical Society
• Polish American Medical Society
• Missouri State Orthopaedic Association
• Alpha Epsilon Delta Honors Society
• Polish American Congress

Presentations

(1) Plachta, S., Orthopaedics Overseas – Malawi Orthopaedic Association – Blantyre, Malawi Africa – October 2017 
a. Presentation – Anatomy and Complications of Adult & Pediatric Forearm Fractures for the Malawian Orthopaedic Clinical Officer § Presentation – Pediatric Elbow Fractures for the Malawian Orthopaedic Clinical Officer – Zomba, Malawi 
b. Presentation – Tibial Plateau Fractures for the Malawian Orthopaedic Clinical Officer – Zomba, Malawi § Presentation – Pelvic Trauma & Emergencies for the Malawian Orthopaedic Clinical Officer – Zomba, Malawi 

(2) Plachta, S. Evaluation & Non-Operative Management of Calcaneal Fractures for the Malawian Orthopaedic Clinical Officer 
a. Presentation – Malawi Orthopaedic Association Meeting – Mangochi, Malawi Africa – September 2017 

(3) Plachta, S., Israel, H., Watson, J.T. Dynamization Potential of Circular External Fixation Frames with Divergent Struts. 
a. Presentation - LLRS – Limb Lengthening & Reconstruction Society –July 2016 – Charleston, South Carolina 
b. Presentation - St. Louis University Hospital Research Symposium –April 2017 – St. Louis, MO 
c. Poster Presentation – St. Louis University Department of Orthopaedics Research Symposium – September 2016 

(4) Plachta, S., Israel, H., Brechbuhler, J., Hayes, A., Huebner, S., Place, H., Inter/Intra-Observer Reliability of T1 Pelvic Angle (TPA), a Novel Radiographic Measure for Global Sagittal Deformity 
a. Presentation – IMAST – Scoliosis Research Society – Presentation – July 2016 – Washington D.C. 
b. Presentation – Mid America Orthopaedic Research Symposium (MAOA)– April 2017 – Fort Lauderdale, FL 
c. Poster Presentation - St. Louis University Hospital Research Symposium –April 2017 – St. Louis, MO 

(5) White J. Stoner J, Avedian R, Leddy L, MacDonald K, Rajai R, Spiguel A, Balach T, Miller B, The Musculoskeletal Oncology Research Initiative (Plachta, S.). The Variability of Margin Definitions Used in the Clinical Treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A MultiInstitutional Study. 
a. Poster presentation, 2015 ISOLS & MSTS Combined Annual Meeting - October 6-10, 2015. - Orlando, FL 

(6) Plachta, S. Medical School Admissions: The Inside Story. 
a. Presentation – Society of Polish American Pre-Health Professionals – Lives in Medicine Conference – August 2014

Awards

• Junior Resident Research Award for Best Basic Science Project – SLU Department of Orthopaedics (June 2016) 
• 1st Place Winner St. Louis University Hospital Graduate Medical Education Research Symposium (April 2017) 
• 2nd Place Winner Missouri State Orthopaedic Association (MSOA) resident research oral presentation (April 2017) 
• 1st Place Winner St. Louis University Department of Orthopaedics Poster Presentation (June 2017) 
• Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Medical Society Member 
• M.D. with Distinction in Research Graduate 
• Research Fellowship: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Center for Advanced Surgical Education 
  
• 2nd Place Winner Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum – Oral Presentation (February 2011) 
• 1st Place Winner Chicago Medical School Summer Research Fellow – Poster Presentation (October 2010) 
• President & Student Advisor – Chicago Medical School Surgery Interest Group