Abstract
BackgroundChildren with early-onset scoliosis living in high-altitude areas have severe deformities and poor nutritional status. However, no reports on early-onset scoliosis treatment using traditional growing rods in such children exist. Thus, we analyzed the outcomes of traditional growing rods treatment in such patients and the effect of altitude on therapy.MethodsBetween September 2007 and December 2017, 59 consecutive patients with EOS underwent systematic surgical correction using traditional growing rods. They were divided into the high-altitude and low-altitude groups, and differences in surgical efficacy and complications between the groups were analyzed pre- and postoperatively. Radiographic measurements, including the Cobb angle, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, T1–S1 and T1–T12 heights, sagittal and coronal balance, distance between C7PL and sagittal vertical axis, pelvic incidence, sacral slope, and pelvic tilt were assessed preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the last follow-up. Continuous data were analyzed using paired or independent Student’s t tests, and they were compared preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the last follow-up using a repeated measures analysis of variance. Enumerated data were analyzed using the χ2 test.ResultsThe mean patient age at the initial surgery and mean follow-up duration were 8.9 ± 2.4(5–14) years and 51.91 ± 25.23 months, respectively. Altogether, 234 operations were conducted for all patients with an average interval between operations of 11.4 ± 3.0 months. The average Cobb angle was similar in both groups preoperatively and at the last follow-up, it was significantly different postoperatively. TK was significantly different in all three periods. T1–S1 and T1–T12 heights were significantly different only during the preoperative period. The overall rates of complications and implant-related complications did not differ significantly between the groups.ConclusionsDeformity in patients with EOS in high-altitude areas was more severe, and treatment using TGRs yielded a satisfactory therapeutic effect.
Highlights
Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is defined as scoliosis with an onset before the age of 10 years
This study aimed to investigate the effects and complications of growing rod use for treating EOS in children in highaltitude areas
Scoliosis was idiopathic in 17 patients (7 patients in the H-A group; 10 in the L-A group), congenital in 34 patients (13 patients in the H-A group; 21 in the L-A group), neuromuscular in 4 patients (1 patient in the H-A group; 3 in the L-A group), and neuromuscular in 4 patients (2 patients in each group)
Summary
Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is defined as scoliosis with an onset before the age of 10 years. EOS progresses rapidly, leading to severe and complex deformities, which affect the longitudinal growth of the child, causing shortness of the spine and trunk, and cause severe lung function damage [2, 3]. Lung development is not completed until approximately 8 years of age; thoracic deformity seriously affects lung maturity, and it is often accompanied by pulmonary dysfunction [4]. Children with early-onset scoliosis living in high-altitude areas have severe deformities and poor nutritional status. No reports on early-onset scoliosis treatment using traditional growing rods in such children exist. We analyzed the outcomes of traditional growing rods treatment in such patients and the effect of altitude on therapy
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