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Growing rods for early-onset scoliosis in Ehlers-Danlos disease

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Abstract

Purpose

To study the results and complications of Traditional Growing Rods (TGR) for the treatment of Early-Onset Scoliosis (EOS) in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS).

Methods

This is a retrospective study of patients with EDS treated for EOS between 2012 and 2018 by TGR. For each patient, we evaluated the evolution of the Cobb angle of the main coronal curve before the first surgery, postoperatively and at the last follow-up. We also noted every complication.

Results

Four patients have been evaluated. Age at the index surgery ranged from 3- to 6-year-old. All the patients had a Kyphoscoliosis. The preoperative Cobb angle of the main coronal curve ranged from 70° to 104°. Prior to surgery, a progressive correction of the spinal deformity by Halo-gravity traction was performed for all patients. One patient had several complications with a poor result after final fusion. Three patients did not sustain any complication and presented good results. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 8 years. For two of our patients, further lengthening procedures are still needed.

Conclusions

TGR is a good surgical option for the treatment of EOS in EDS. A progressive preoperative correction is recommended. Anchor-related complications must be minimized in these patients with an important kyphosis.

Level of evidence

Level IV.

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Funding

This study received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Contributions

MLT: substantial contributions to the conception and design of the work. Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content. Final approval of the version to be published. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. AAM: Substantial contributions to the conception and design of the work. Revising it critically for important intellectual content. Final approval of the version to be published. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. MNN: Substantial contributions to the conception and design of the work. Revising it critically for important intellectual content; and Final approval of the version to be published; and Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. RB: Substantial contributions to the conception of the work. Revising it critically for important intellectual content. Final approval of the version to be published. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. HY-Y: Substantial contributions to the conception and design of the work. Revising it critically for important intellectual content. Final approval of the version to be published. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. SB: Substantial contributions to the conception and design of the work. Revising it critically for important intellectual content. Final approval of the version to be published. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed Laroussi Toumia.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants involved in the study.

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All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committees.

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Toumia, M.L., Mohseni, A.A., Nessib, M.N. et al. Growing rods for early-onset scoliosis in Ehlers-Danlos disease. Spine Deform 11, 237–242 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-022-00580-y

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