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The modulation of spinal growth with nitinol intervertebral stapling in an established swine model

  • Basic Science
  • Published:
Journal of Children's Orthopaedics

Abstract

Purpose

Anterior spinal stapling for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has been shown to slow progression in small curves; however, its role in larger curves remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nitinol staples to modulate spinal growth by evaluating the two-dimensional and three-dimensional morphological and histological effects of this method in a well-established porcine model.

Methods

Three immature Yucatan miniature pigs underwent intervertebral stapling. Two staples spanned each of three consecutive mid-thoracic discs and epiphyses. Monthly radiographs were obtained. Computed tomography (CT) was conducted at harvest after 6 months of growth. Measurements of wedging and height for each disc and vertebral body were conducted. Micro CT was used to compare physeal closure between stapled and non-stapled levels. Histology of the growth plate also compared the hypertrophic zone thickness for control and stapled vertebrae.

Results

After 6 months of stapled growth, the average coronal Cobb angle of the stapled segments increased by 7.7 ± 2.0° and kyphosis increased by 3.3 ± 0.6° compared to preoperative curves. Increased vertebral wedging and decreased disc height (p < 0.001) were noted in stapled regions. Overall, 26 ± 23 % of each growth plate was closed in the stapled segments, with 6 ± 8 % closure in the unstapled levels. No difference was observed regarding the hypertrophic zone height when comparing instrumented to uninstrumented levels, nor was a difference recognized when comparing right versus left regions within stapled levels alone.

Conclusions

Six months of nitinol intervertebral stapling created a mild coronal and sagittal deformity associated with reduced vertebral and disc height, and increased coronal vertebral and sagittal disc wedging.

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Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank Esther Cory for her assistance with the μCT accession and Karen Bowden for the histological processing, and acknowledge Children’s Specialists of San Diego for the support of this study and Medtronic Spinal and Biologics for loaning the SMA staples and instrumentation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA, 92103, USA

    Joseph H. Carreau & Peter O. Newton

  2. Department of Orthopedics, Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, 3020 Children’s Way, MC 5054, San Diego, CA, 92123, USA

    Christine L. Farnsworth, Tracey Bastrom, Nathan Bryan & Peter O. Newton

  3. Orthopedic Biomechanics and Research Center, San Diego, 3020 Children’s Way, MC 5054, San Diego, CA, 92123, USA

    Diana A. Glaser & Joshua D. Doan

  4. 3030 Children’s Way, Suite #410, San Diego, CA, 92123, USA

    Peter O. Newton

Authors
  1. Joseph H. Carreau
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  2. Christine L. Farnsworth
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  3. Diana A. Glaser
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  4. Joshua D. Doan
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  5. Tracey Bastrom
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  6. Nathan Bryan
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  7. Peter O. Newton
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter O. Newton.

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Carreau, J.H., Farnsworth, C.L., Glaser, D.A. et al. The modulation of spinal growth with nitinol intervertebral stapling in an established swine model. J Child Orthop 6, 241–253 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11832-012-0417-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11832-012-0417-z

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