Abstract
Purpose
Non-invasive distraction of magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) avoids repeated surgical lengthening in patients with early onset scoliosis, but it is not known how effective this technique is in previously operated children.
Methods
In a retrospective, multicentre study, the data were obtained for 27 primary (P) patients [mean age 7.0 (2.4–10.7) years at surgery] and 23 conversion (C) patients [mean age 7.7 (3.6–11.0) years at conversion from standard growing rods] with 1-year follow-up.
Results
The mean major curve was 63.9° in the P group and 46.5° in the C group at baseline (preoperatively, p = 0.0009) and 39.5° and 39.6°, respectively, at 1-year follow-up (p = 0.99). The mean percentage change of spinal growth from baseline to 1-year follow-up was 18.3 % in the P group and 6.5 % in the C group (p = 0.007). Comparing the spinal growth from postoperative to 1-year follow-up no statistical difference was observed between the study groups (1.8 % P vs −2.2 % C, p = 0.09).
Conclusions
Scoliosis can be equally controlled after conversion from traditional growing rods into MCGR, but spinal growth from baseline is less in the conversion patients as compared with the primary group.
Level of evidence
III.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Leslee Willes, MS, Willes Consulting Group, Incorporated for assistance with statistical analysis. We are Grateful to Mr. MH Hilali Noordeen, MA, DM, FRCS (Tr and Orth), MCh—Consultant spinal surgeon based at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, Stan and University College of London, England—United Kingdom without whose guidance, we would not have been able to prepare this manuscript for publication in its current form.
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Keskinen, H., Helenius, I., Nnadi, C. et al. Preliminary comparison of primary and conversion surgery with magnetically controlled growing rods in children with early onset scoliosis. Eur Spine J 25, 3294–3300 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4597-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4597-y