Surgical treatment of severe scoliosis in young children using magnetically controlled growing rods – initial experience in a prospective cohort Benny Dahl, Thomas Borbjerg Andersen & Martin Gehrchen Spine Unit Rigshospitalet & University of Copenhagen Denmark
Disclosures Research support: K2M Medtronic Globus Medical Lundbeck Foundation The Danish Strategic Research Council Novo Nordisk Foundation
Purpose To assess the efficacy and safety of magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) in a Danish population
Methods & Material 1st procedure: Nov. 5th, 2013 Fourteen patients operated (primary operation): Median age 10 years (range 6-13) Female/male: 6/8 Diagnosis: idiopathic (3) syndromic or neuromuscular (11)
Methods & Material Surgery Anchoring points caudal and cranial All screw construct (or hooks if necessary) Intramuscular placement of rods Most often distraction on a temporary rod before insertion of the MCGR’s at the indexoperation
Methods & Material Distractions Every 10 – 12 weeks as outpatients using a magnetic external controller Distractions to stall
Results Cobb angles Preop median: 66 degrees (54-95) Postop median: 27 degrees (20-50) P = 0.01 Lenghtening 2.3 – 3.7 mm per distraction
Results No intra- or perioperative complications 4 patients had revision surgery median 9 months postop All but one distraction carried out in the outpatient clinic not requiring anaesthesia or analgesics
Eight distractions, 16 months = 22 mm 2.75 mm/distraction to stall
Conclusion Use of MCGR’s in our clinic: No intraoperative complications Satisfactory correction at index operation Distractions without anaestesia as outpatient procedures Application in the syndromic/neuromuscular patient
Benny Dahl, Thomas Borbjerg Andersen & Martin Gehrchen Spine Unit Rigshospitalet & University of Copenhagen Denmark