Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this retrospective chart and radiographic review was to present the clinical outcomes and complication rate of a staged approach to modern dual growing-rod (GR) surgery when treating children with severe early onset scoliosis.
Methods
Fifteen patients received a 6-mm dual GR system. During Stage 1, pairs of end vertebra were exposed in a subperiosteal fashion, instrumented, grafted, and fused. Stage 2 was performed, on average, 5 months later (range 8–35 weeks) and the fused foundations were connected with two growing rods under skull-femoral traction. Clinical and operative notes were reviewed and all complications were recorded. Radiographic measurements were assessed at pre-index, with intraoperative traction during Stage 1, post-Stage 2 and at most recent follow-up. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate change in scoliosis and kyphosis.
Results
At initial surgery, the average age was 8.17 ± 1.5 years. The mean Cobb angle was 88.1° ± 14.0°, corrected to 60.3° ± 8.7° (p < 0.001) with intraoperative traction in Stage 1, preserved after Stage 2 instrumentation (59.5° ± 9.6°, p = 0.69), and maintained with subsequent lengthenings (60.6° ± 12.8°, p = 0.73). Hyperkyphosis (11/15 patients) improved from 70.8° ± 15.7° to 46.6° ± 9.7° (p < 0.001). At minimum 2-year follow-up (range 24–80 months, mean 49.5), the complication rate was 14 (0.93 complications/patient), including 6 rod breakages, 6 superficial infections, and 2 deep infections. No anchor migration or pull-out was noted. Seven patients have undergone definitive posterior spinal fusion.
Conclusions
Staged insertion of dual GR systems permits strong distraction, with acceptable correction of severe deformities and minimal complications.
Graphical abstract
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Dr. Zeller receives royalties from Spinevision (excluding personal use) and is an unpaid consultant for Paradigm Spine. None of the authors has received any grant or financial support for the present study.
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At the time this study was conducted Sebastiaan Schelfaut was an Orthopaedic Fellow at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Schelfaut, S., Dermott, J.A. & Zeller, R. Staged insertion of growing rods in severe scoliosis. Eur Spine J 27, 2203–2212 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-018-5552-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-018-5552-x