Abstract
BackgroundEarly onset scoliosis (EOS) may cause malnutrition in affected patients. Growing-rod treatment has been an effective protocol for treating EOS. The objective of this study is to demonstrate whether growing-rod treatment improves nutritional status of EOS patients.MethodsFifty-two EOS patients who had dual growing-rod surgery was enrolled. The minimum follow-up was 3-years. Their body weights were normalized based on the data of two National Population Census of China. Z-scores were used to indicate the standard deviation from the median body weight-for-age.ResultsThe median follow-up time was 6 years. Preoperatively, the prevalence of malnutrition (Z < − 2) was 21.2%, and reduced to 9.6% at the end of the follow-up. Preoperatively, the average Z-score was − 0.94, and it increased to − 0.65 at the latest follow-up (p < 0.05). Patients with preoperative Z-score below − 1 had more significant increase of Z-scores (− 2.15 vs − 1.26, p < 0.001). A significant negative correlation between the change of Z-score and the preoperative Z-score (correlation coefficient − 0.65, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe growing rod surgery and lengthening procedures significantly improves the nutrition status of EOS patients. The body weight gains are more significant in patients with lower body weights.
Highlights
Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) compromises chest-wall movement [1,2,3] and may lead to respiratory disorders and pulmonary insufficiency [4,5,6,7]
Growing-rod technique was proved to reduce the angle of the curves, lengthen T1–T12 distance, and promote lung development in Early onset scoliosis (EOS) patients [10, 11]
Our study revealed that growing-rod implantation and lengthening procedures can improve weight-for-age position of EOS patients in the 3-year follow-up period
Summary
Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) compromises chest-wall movement [1,2,3] and may lead to respiratory disorders and pulmonary insufficiency [4,5,6,7]. EOS patients were treated by a series of growthfriendly techniques. Growing-rod technique may have role in improving nutritional status of EOS patients. Myung et al found increase in postoperative weight percentile at minimum 2-years follow-up in EOS patients with growing-rod surgery [12]. Harris et al found growing-rod resulted increase in weight percentile for underweight patients [13]. Another growth friendly technique including vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) was proved to increase weight for EOS patients [14]. Onset scoliosis (EOS) may cause malnutrition in affected patients. The objective of this study is to demonstrate whether growing-rod treatment improves nutritional status of EOS patients
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