Patients treated by magnetic growing rods for early-onset scoliosis reach the expected average growth.

Abstract

Magnetic controlled growing rods (MCGRs)areone of the most common proceduresto treatearly-onset scoliosis(EOS). One of the major concerns is that patients treated with MGCR do not reach an adequateheight with MGCR.The present study has one of the largest samplesizesof EOS patients treated by MGCR.This study aimsto demonstrate theefficacy of the treatmentwith MGCR in EOS patients,comparing our resultswiththeestimatedgrowth. Patients were consecutively enrolled from July 2011 to July 2022.The same surgical equipe performed all the procedures. The mean length of the patients was assessed by X-ray (T2-T12 andT2-S1distance) by a team of expert radiologists.The estimated growth by Dimegliowas compared with themean elongation obtained by year. 65 patients were included.16 patients underwent final surgery.In group 1,patients reached agrowthof 3.6 ± 8.7mm(T2-T12) and 9.6 ± 27.6mm(T2-S1).In group 2,patientsgrew5.4 ± 5.7mm(T2-T12) and 9 ± 9mm(T2-S1).81% of the estimated elongation during the treatment was obtained during the first surgery. The difference betweenDimeglio'sestimated growthand thevalueobtained by MGCR was-4.3 ± 8.7mm(T2-T12) and -12.3 ± 12.2mm(T2-S1)in group 1 (p < 0.001) and -1.1 ± 4.2mm(T2-T12) and -6.6 ± 6.0mm(T2-S1) in group2(p = 0.001). MGCR patients reached andoverlappedthe growth target according to the score by Dimeglio. However, the value of growth tended to reduceoverthe years. Lastly,obtainingthe most significant elongation possible at the first surgeryis mandatory,comprising81% of the total value.