Conventional growing rods are the most commonly used distraction-based devices in the treatment of progressive early-onset scoliosis. This technique requires repeated lengthenings with the patient anaesthetised in the operating theatre. We describe the outcomes and complications of using a non-invasive magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) in children with early-onset scoliosis. Lengthening is performed on an outpatient basis using an external remote control with the patient awake. Between November 2009 and March 2011, 34 children with a mean age of eight years (5 to 12) underwent treatment. The mean length of follow-up was 15 months (12 to 18). In total, 22 children were treated with dual rod constructs and 12 with a single rod. The mean number of distractions per patient was 4.8 (3 to 6). The mean pre-operative Cobb angle was 69° (46° to 108°); this was corrected to a mean 47° (28° to 91°) post-operatively. The mean Cobb angle at final review was 41° (27° to 86°). The mean pre-operative distance from T1 to S1 was 304 mm (243 to 380) and increased to 335 mm (253 to 400) in the immediate post-operative period. At final review the mean distance from T1 to S1 had increased to 348 mm (260 to 420). Two patients developed a superficial wound infection and a further two patients in the single rod group developed a loss of distraction. In the dual rod group, one patient had pull-out of a hook and one developed prominent metalwork. Two patients had a rod breakage; one patient in the single rod group and one patient in the dual rod group. Our early results show that the MCGR is safe and effective in the treatment of progressive early-onset scoliosis with the avoidance of repeated surgical lengthenings. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:75–80

Aims. To report the mid-term results of a modified self-growing rod (SGR) technique for the treatment of idiopathic and neuromuscular early-onset scoliosis (EOS). Methods. We carried out a retrospective analysis of 16 consecutive patients with EOS treated with an SGR construct at a single hospital between September 2008 and December 2014. General demographics and deformity variables (i.e. major Cobb angle, T1 to T12 length, T1 to S1 length, pelvic obliquity, shoulder obliquity, and C7 plumb line) were recorded preoperatively, and postoperatively at yearly follow-up. Complications and revision procedures were also recorded. Only patients with a minimum follow-up of five years after surgery were included. Results. A total of 16 patients were included. Six patients had an idiopathic EOS while ten patients had a neuromuscular or syndromic EOS (seven spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and three with cerebral palsy or a syndrome). Their mean ages at surgery were 7.1 years (SD 2.2) and 13.3 years (SD 2.6) respectively at final follow-up. The mean preoperative Cobb angle of the major curve was 66.1° (SD 8.5°) and had improved to 25.5° (SD 9.9°) at final follow-up. The T1 to S1 length increased from 289.7 mm (SD 24.9) before surgery to 330.6 mm (SD 30.4) immediately after surgery. The mean T1 to S1 and T1 to T12 growth after surgery were 64.1 mm (SD 19.9) and 47.4 mm (SD 18.8), respectively, thus accounting for a mean T1 to S1 and T1 to T12 spinal growth after surgery of 10.5 mm/year (SD 3.7) and 7.8 mm/year (SD 3.3), respectively. A total of six patients (five idiopathic EOS, one cerebral palsy EOS) had broken rods during their growth spurt but were uneventfully revised with a fusion procedure. No other complications were noted. Conclusion. Our data show that SGR is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of EOS in nonambulatory hypotonic patients with a neuromuscular condition. Significant spinal growth can be expected after surgery and is comparable to other published techniques for EOS. While satisfactory correction of the deformity can be achieved and maintained with this technique, a high rate of rod breakage was seen in patients with an idiopathic or cerebral palsy EOS. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(11):1560–1566

Aims. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients with early-onset scoliosis (EOS), who had undergone spinal fusion after distraction-based spinal growth modulation using either traditional growing rods (TGRs) or magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs). Methods. We undertook a retrospective review of skeletally mature patients who had undergone fusion for an EOS, which had been previously treated using either TGRs or MCGRs. Measured outcomes included sequential coronal T1 to S1 height and major curve (Cobb) angle on plain radiographs and any complications requiring unplanned surgery before final fusion. Results. We reviewed 43 patients (63% female) with a mean age of 6.4 years (SD 2.6) at the index procedure, and 12.2 years (SD 2.2) at final fusion. Their mean follow-up was 8.1 years (SD 3.4). A total of 16 patients were treated with MCGRs and 27 with TGRs. The mean number of distractions was 7.5 in the MCGR group and ten in the TGR group (p = 0.471). The mean interval between distractions was 3.4 months in the MCGR group and 8.6 months in the TGR group (p < 0.001). The mean Cobb angle had improved by 25.1° in the MCGR group and 23.2° in TGR group (p = 0.664) at final follow-up. The mean coronal T1 to S1 height had increased by 16% in the MCGR group and 32.9% in TGR group (p = 0.001), although the mean T1 to S1 height achieved at final follow-up was similar in both. Unplanned operations were needed in 43.8% of the MCGR group and 51.2% of TGR group (p = 0.422). Conclusion. In this retrospective, single-centre review, there were no significant differences in major curve correction or gain in spinal height at fusion. Although the number of planned procedures were fewer in patients with MCGRs, the rates of implant-related complications needing unplanned revision surgery were similar in the two groups. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(2):257–264

Aims. We undertook a prospective non-randomised radiological study to evaluate the preliminary results of using magnetically-controlled growing rods (MAGEC System, Ellipse technology) to treat children with early-onset scoliosis. Patients and Methods. Between January 2011 and January 2015, 19 children were treated with magnetically-controlled growing rods (MCGRs) and underwent distraction at three-monthly intervals. The mean age of our cohort was 9.1 years (4 to 14) and the mean follow-up 22.4 months (5.1 to 35.2). Of the 19 children, eight underwent conversion from traditional growing rods. Whole spine radiographs were carried out pre- and post-operatively: image intensification was used during each lengthening in the outpatient department. The measurements evaluated were Cobb angle, thoracic kyphosis, proximal junctional kyphosis and spinal growth from T1 to S1. Results. The mean pre-, post-operative and latest follow-up Cobb angles were 62° (37.4 to 95.8), 45.1° (16.6 to 96.2) and 43.2° (11.9 to 90.5), respectively (p < 0.05). The mean pre-, post-operative and latest follow-up T1-S1 lengths were 288.1 mm (223.2 to 351.7), 298.8 mm (251 to 355.7) and 331.1 mm (275 to 391.9), respectively (p < 0.05). In all, three patients developed proximal pull-out of their fixation and required revision surgery: there were no subsequent complications. There were no complications of outpatient distraction. Conclusions. Our study shows that MCGRs provide stable correction of the deformity in early-onset scoliosis in both primary and revision procedures. They have the potential to reduce the need for multiple operations and thereby minimise the potential complications associated with traditional growing rod systems. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1240–47

Aims. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes after growth-friendly treatment for early-onset scoliosis (EOS) between patients with skeletal dysplasias versus those with other syndromes. Methods. We retrospectively identified 20 patients with skeletal dysplasias and 292 with other syndromes (control group) who had completed surgical growth-friendly EOS treatment between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2018. We compared radiological parameters, complications, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at mean follow-up of 8.6 years (SD 3.3) in the dysplasia group and 6.6 years (SD 2.6) in the control group. Results. Mean major curve correction per patient did not differ significantly between the dysplasia group (43%) and the control group (28%; p = 0.087). Mean annual spinal height increase was less in the dysplasia group (9.3 mm (SD 5.1) than in the control group (16 mm (SD 9.2); p < 0.001). Mean annual spinal growth adjusted to patient preoperative standing height during the distraction period was 11% in the dysplasia group and 14% in the control group (p = 0.070). The complication rate was 1.6 times higher (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3 to 2.0) in the dysplasia group. The following complications were more frequent in the dysplasia group: neurological injury (rate ratio (RR) 5.1 (95% CI 2.3 to 11)), deep surgical site infection (RR 2.2 (95% CI 1.2 to 4.1)), implant-related complications (RR 2.0 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.7)), and unplanned revision (RR 1.8 (95% CI 1.3 to 2.5)). Final fusion did not provide additional spinal height compared with watchful waiting (p = 0.054). There were no significant differences in HRQoL scores between the groups. Conclusion. After growth-friendly EOS treatment, patients with skeletal dysplasias experienced a higher incidence of complications compared to those with other syndromes. Surgical growth-friendly treatment for skeletal dysplasia-associated EOS should be reserved for patients with severe, progressive deformities that are refractory to nonoperative treatment. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(6):596–602

Aims

The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of surgery using growing rods in patients with severe versus moderate early-onset scoliosis (EOS).

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To investigate metallosis in patients with magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) and characterize the metal particle profile of the tissues surrounding the rod.

Aims. Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) have been gaining popularity in the management of early-onset scoliosis (EOS) over the past decade. We present our experience with the first 44 MCGR consecutive cases treated at our institution. Methods. This is a retrospective review of consecutive cases of MCGR performed in our institution between 2012 and 2018. This cohort consisted of 44 children (25 females and 19 males), with a mean age of 7.9 years (3.7 to 13.6). There were 41 primary cases and three revisions from other rod systems. The majority (38 children) had dual rods. The group represents a mixed aetiology including idiopathic (20), neuromuscular (13), syndromic (9), and congenital (2). The mean follow-up was 4.1 years, with a minimum of two years. Nine children graduated to definitive fusion. We evaluated radiological parameters of deformity correction (Cobb angle), and spinal growth (T1-T12 and T1-S1 heights), as well as complications during the course of treatment. Results. The mean Cobb angles pre-operatively, postoperatively, and at last follow-up were 70° (53 to 103), 35° (15 to 71) and 39° (15 to 65) respectively (p < 0.001). Further, there was a mean of 14° (-6 to 27) of additional Cobb angle correction upon graduation from MCGR to definitive fusion. Both T1-T12 and T1-S1 showed significant increase in heights of 27 mm and 45 mm respectively at last follow-up (p < 0.001). Ten children (23%) developed 18 complications requiring 21 unplanned operations. Independent risk factors for developing a complication were single rod constructs and previous revision surgery. Conclusion. MCGR has the benefit of avoiding multiple surgeries, and is an effective tool in treatment of early-onset scoliosis. It also maintains the flexibility of the spine, allowing further correction at the time of definitive fusion. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-7:405–414

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Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) allow non-invasive correction of the spinal deformity in the treatment of early-onset scoliosis. Conventional growing rod systems (CGRS) need repeated surgical distractions: these are associated with the effect of the ‘law of diminishing returns’.

The primary aim of this study was to quantify this effect in MCGRs over sequential distractions.

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Magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) systems use non-invasive spinal lengthening for the surgical treatment of early-onset scoliosis (EOS). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of these devices in the prevention of progression of the deformity. A secondary aim was to record the rate of complications.