Dual Growing-Rods effective in treating Severe Early-Onset Scoliosis in the long term

Written By : Dr Supreeth D R |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2023-06-30T20:00:18+05:30 | Updated On 30 Jun 2023 8:00 PM IST

Yunsheng Wang et al evaluated long-term outcomes (radiographic parameters and pulmonary function) at a minimum follow up of 5 years after use of dual growing rods (DGRs) to treat severe early-onset scoliosis (sEOS). The study was performed at Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. It has been published in ‘THE JOURNAL OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERY.’

Among a total of 112 patients who were diagnosed with early-onset scoliosis (EOS) and were treated with DGRs, 52 patients had sEOS, with a major Cobb angle of >800. Of these patients, 39 with a minimum follow-up of 5 years had complete radiographic and pulmonary function test results and were included. The Cobb angle of the major curve, T1-S1 height, T1-T12 height, and maximum kyphosis angle in the sagittal plane were measured on radiographs. Pulmonary function test results were collected in all patients before the initial operation (preoperatively), 12 months after the initial operation (postoperatively), and at the last follow-up. The changes in pulmonary function and complications during treatment were analyzed.

Key findings of the study were:

• The mean age of patients before the initial operation was 7.7 ± 1.2 years, and the mean follow-up period was 75.0 ± 14.1 months.

• The mean number of lengthenings was 4.5 ± 1.3, and the mean interval between lengthenings was 11.2 ± 2.1 months.

• The Cobb angle improved from 104.50 ± 18.20 preoperatively to 38.10 ± 10.10 after the initial surgical procedure (postoperatively) and 21.90 ± 8.60 at the final follow-up.

• The T1-S1 height increased from 25.1 ± 4.0 cm preoperatively to 32.4 ± 3.5 cm postoperatively and to 39.5 ± 4.0 cm at the final follow-up.

• No significant difference was detected between the increased pulmonary function parameters at 1 year and those before the operation (p > 0.05), except for residual volume, whereas pulmonary function parameters had significantly increased at the final follow-up (p < 0.05).

• During the treatment period, 17 complications occurred in 12 patients.

The authors concluded that- “DGRs are effective in treating sEOS in the long term. They allow longitudinal growth of the spine, and the correction of the spinal deformity can provide conditions that make improving pulmonary function possible in patients with sEOS.”

Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV.

MBBS, Dip. Ortho, DNB ortho, MNAMS

Dr Supreeth D R (MBBS, Dip. Ortho, DNB ortho, MNAMS) is a practicing orthopedician with interest in medical research and publishing articles. He completed MBBS from mysore medical college, dip ortho from Trivandrum medical college and sec. DNB from Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru. He has expirence of 7years in the field of orthopedics. He has presented scientific papers & posters in various state, national and international conferences. His interest in writing articles lead the way to join medical dialogues. He can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751