1. 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

2. Disclosures Research support: K2M Medtronic Globus Medical
Lundbeck Foundation
The Danish Strategic Research Council
Novo Nordisk Foundation

3. Purpose
To assess the efficacy and safety of magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) in a Danish population

4. 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)

5. 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

6. Methods & Material Distractions
Every 10 – 12 weeks as outpatients using a magnetic external controller
Distractions to stall

7. 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

8. 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

10. Eight distractions, 16 months = 22 mm 2.75 mm/distraction to stall

11. 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

12. Benny Dahl, Thomas Borbjerg Andersen & Martin Gehrchen Spine Unit
Rigshospitalet & University of Copenhagen
Denmark