Principles of Management of Long-Term Complications in EOS

Abstract

Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) in very young children is an extremely difficult problem that requires thorough knowledge of normal spine development as well as the aetiology, natural history, clinical evaluation, and available treatment options. EOS is often associated with other comorbid conditions, and this increases the complexity in managing the spinal deformity. The management of EOS requires consideration of interrelated growth of spine and thorax and their impact on the lung development. Distraction-based implants are the most common devices used in EOS. Optimal treatment strategy should minimise the complications that lead to unplanned surgical interventions and minimise the psychological effects on the patient and decrease the total cost of treatment and financial burden on the healthcare system. Surgical treatment of EOS is challenging and prone to high complication rates. According to the authors’ experience among various surgical treatment options, self-sliding growth guidance (SSGG) offers promising and acceptable results.