STUDY DESIGN: Case series. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate complications and radiographic parameters after magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) index surgery (IS), during lengthening and following converting surgery (CS) with a minimum of 2-year follow up (FU). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: MCGR are maintaining skeletal growth in treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS). There is no data regarding correction potential after CS available. METHODS: Twenty-four cases were included. Two patients with rib and pelvic hook fixation instead of pedicle screws and three patients with previous spinal surgery were excluded from radiographic analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients received grade 3 or 4 in Classification of Early-Onset-Scoliosis (C-EOS) for main curve severity. The kyphotic modifiers (-) were given to seven and (+) to seven patients. Mean age at IS was 10.5 ± 2.4 years with a mean FU time of 42.3 ± 11.3 months. Deformity correction was only achieved during IS (46%) and CS (36%). During MCGR treatment a 5° loss of correction seen, while 25 mm of T1-S1 length was gained during the lengthening period. An overall average lengthening of 1.6 mm per lengthening procedure was achieved. Possibility to gain length during distractions decreases over time. No major failure of the distraction mechanism was observed, only 16 lengthening procedures failed within a total of 264 lengthening procedures. A total of 19 revision surgeries in 10 patients were observed. Four patients received more than one revision surgery. CONCLUSION: Applying MCGR results in a revision rate of 0.23 per patient and per one FU year, while making further lengthening procedures obsolete compared with conventional growing rod techniques. Correction of major curve is possible during IS und CS. The law of diminishing returns applies during the period of lengthening. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.
STUDY DESIGN: Case series. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate complications and radiographic parameters after magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) index surgery (IS), during lengthening and following converting surgery (CS) with a minimum of 2-year follow up (FU). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: MCGR are maintaining skeletal growth in treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS). There is no data regarding correction potential after CS available. METHODS: Twenty-four cases were included. Two patients with rib and pelvic hook fixation instead of pedicle screws and three patients with previous spinal surgery were excluded from radiographic analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients received grade 3 or 4 in Classification of Early-Onset-Scoliosis (C-EOS) for main curve severity. The kyphotic modifiers (-) were given to seven and (+) to seven patients. Mean age at IS was 10.5 ± 2.4 years with a mean FU time of 42.3 ± 11.3 months. Deformity correction was only achieved during IS (46%) and CS (36%). During MCGR treatment a 5° loss of correction seen, while 25 mm of T1-S1 length was gained during the lengthening period. An overall average lengthening of 1.6 mm per lengthening procedure was achieved. Possibility to gain length during distractions decreases over time. No major failure of the distraction mechanism was observed, only 16 lengthening procedures failed within a total of 264 lengthening procedures. A total of 19 revision surgeries in 10 patients were observed. Four patients received more than one revision surgery. CONCLUSION: Applying MCGR results in a revision rate of 0.23 per patient and per one FU year, while making further lengthening procedures obsolete compared with conventional growing rod techniques. Correction of major curve is possible during IS und CS. The law of diminishing returns applies during the period of lengthening. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.