Abstract
Study Design
A comparison of 2 methods of early-onset scoliosis treatment using radiographic measures and complication rates.
Objectives
To determine whether a delaying tactic (serial casting) has comparable efficacy to a surgical method (insertion of growing rod instrumentation [GRI]) in the initial phase of early-onset deformity management.
Summary of Background Data
Serial casts are used in experienced centers to delay operative management of curves of surgical magnitude (greater than 50°) in children up to age 6 years.
Methods
A total of 27 casted patients from 3 institutions were matched with 27 patients from a multicenter database according to age (within 6 months of each other), curve magnitude (within 10° of each other), and diagnosis. Outcomes were compared according to major curve magnitude, spine length (T1—S1), duration and number of treatment encounters, and complications.
Results
There was no difference in age (5.5 years) or initial curve magnitude (65°) between groups, which reflects the accuracy of the matching process. Six pairs of patients had neuromuscular diagnoses, 11 had idiopathic deformities, and 10 had syndromic scoliosis. Growing rod instrumentation patients had smaller curves (45.9° vs. 64.9°; p =.002) at follow-up, but there was no difference in absolute spine length (GRI = 32.0 cm; cast = 30.6 cm; p =.26), even though GRI patients had been under treatment for a longer duration (4.5 vs. 2.4 years; p <.0001) and had undergone a mean of 5.5 lengthenings compared with 4.0 casts. Growing rod instrumentation patients had a 44% complication rate, compared with 1 cast complication. Of 27 casted patients, 15 eventually had operative treatment after a mean delay of 1.7 years after casting.
Conclusions
Cast treatment is a valuable delaying tactic for younger children with early-onset scoliosis. Spine deformity is adequately controlled, spine length is not compromised, and surgical complications associated with early GRI treatment are avoided.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Vitale MG, Wright J. Outcomes in children with early onset scoliosis. In: Akbarnia BA, Yazici M, Thompson GH, editors. The growing spine. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 2011. p. 547–53.
Vitale MG, Gomez JA, Matsumoto H, Roye Jr DP. Variability of expert opinion in treatment of early-onset scoliosis. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2011;469:1317–22.
Bess S, Akbarnia BA, Thompson GH, et al. Complications of growing-rod treatment for early-onset scoliosis: analysis of one hundred and forty patients. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2010;92:2533–43.
Mehta MH. Growth as a corrective force in the early treatment of progressive infantile scoliosis. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2005;87:1237–47.
D’Astous JL, Sanders JO. Casting and traction treatment methods for scoliosis. Orthop Clin North Am 2007;38:477–84. v.
Fletcher ND, McClung A, Rathjen KE, Johnston CE. Serial casting as a delay tactic in the treatment of moderate to severe early onset scoliosis. J Pediatr Orthop 2012;32:66.
Akbarnia BA, Mundis GM, Salari P. Dual growing rods. In: Akbarnia BA, Yazici M, Thompson GH, editors. The growing spine. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 2011. p. 449–68.
Akbarnia BA, Breakwell LM, Marks DS, et al. Dual growing rod technique followed for three to eleven years until final fusion: the effect of frequency of lengthening. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2008;33:984–90.
Dimeglio A, Bonnel F, Canavese F. Normal growth of the spine and thorax. In: Akbarnia BA, Yazici M, Thompson GH, editors. The growing spine. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 2011. p. 13–41.
Emans JB. Orthotic management for infantile and juvenile scoliosis. In: Akbarnia BA, Yazici M, Thompson GH, editors. The growing spine. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 2011. p. 365–81.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Consortia
Corresponding author
Additional information
Author disclosures: CEJ (grant from Medtronic; payment for lectures from Medtronic; royalties from Medtronic, Saunders); AMM (grant from Growing Spine Study Group); GHT (board membership with SICOT Foundation; consultancy for Orthopediatrics, SpineForm, K2M; employment and co-editor with Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics; travel/accommodations/meeting expenses from DePuy and K2M); CPK (none); JOS (grant from Chest Wall and Spinal Study Group; support for travel to meetings from Chest Wall and Spinal Study Group Foundation); GSSG (grant from Growing Spine Foundation).
This work was supported by the Growing Spine Foundation, Milwaukee Foundation, WI, USA.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Johnston, C.E., McClung, A.M., Thompson, G.H. et al. Comparison of Growing Rod Instrumentation Versus Serial Cast Treatment for Early-Onset Scoliosis. Spine Deform 1, 339–342 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspd.2013.05.006
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspd.2013.05.006