Preliminary Results of Treatment of Early Onset Scoliosis Using Magnetic Growing Rods

Purpose: Reporting preliminary results of MCGR. Study design: A prospective uncontrolled, single-center, single-surgeon, clinical and radiological study Patient sample: Between November 2012 and March 2015, 14 children with EOS were treated using MCGR Outcome measures: Preoperative, postoperative and final follow-up (FFU) whole spine radiographs were reviewed to determine the degree of spinal deformity and correction, measured using Cobb angle. T1-S1 length was calculated. Clinical notes to determine number of rod lengthening procedures using remote control device and to record any complications during surgery or FU period. Methods: Mean age was 12.1 years, 2 boys and 12 girls, nine children had primary correction by MCGR; five of them had neuromuscular, three infantile and one congenital scoliosis. All had a dual MCGR implanted. The remaining five patients had previously undergone other growing rod operation before converting to MCGR implant. Results: Mean pre-operative Cobb angle of the primary group was 73.4°, postoperative 34.8° (51.3% correction), FFU 28.8°. Mean initial percentage of the lengthening was 18.4%. Thoracic kyphosis changed significantly from preoperative mean of 48.7° to 31.2° postoperatively (p=0.008). Of the revision group, mean pre-operative Cobb angle was 49.6°, postoperative 41.1° (16.5% correction) and 40.3° at FFU. Mean initial percentage lengthening was 6.9%. One patient had wound infection, two had pull-out of proximal screws, one sustained a breakage of a single-rod construct 6 months after surgery and was replaced by a double magnetic-rod construct. Conclusions: In our consecutive series of patients treated with MCGR we found that scoliosis was well controlled. Cobb angle was significantly reduced following surgery in patients who had MCGR performed as a primary procedure. Generally, the correction was maintained at FFU. Comparing our results for MCGR and other growing rod techniques, they are comparable, without need to repeated surgery.