Scoliosis Treatment Might Reduce Need for Surgeries

In small study, children with the spinal condition avoided repeat

procedures

THURSDAY, April 19, 2012 (HealthDay News) -- Magnetically controlled growing rods can
treat the spinal disorder scoliosis in children without the need for repeat invasive surgeries, a
small new study suggests.

Scoliosis is an abnormal curving of the spine that occurs mainly in young children and
adolescents. Traditional treatment for children who are still growing is surgical insertion of
growing rods. Every six months, however, a new surgery is required to lengthen the rods.

These repeated surgeries are costly and force children to miss school and parents to miss work.

In the study, researchers assessed the use of magnetically controlled growing rods that were
implanted in two patients. The key advantage: Surgery is not required to lengthen these rods.

After 24 months of follow up, the rods were effective and there were no complications, the
researchers reported online April 17 in The Lancet. Furthermore, the patients had no pain and
typically were satisfied with the procedure.
The new rods "will eliminate the need for repeated operations under general anesthesia, wound
complications, and socioeconomic and health-care costs associated with the procedure," a team
led by Kenneth Cheung and Dr. Dino Samartzis, from the department of orthopedics and
traumatology at the University of Hong Kong, said in a news release. "The preliminary results
from the first two patients to undergo the treatment for a minimum of 24 months suggest that this
noninvasive outpatient procedure is effective and safe."

Still, the long-term effectiveness remains unclear, the researchers added. "Whether [the new
technology] leads to significantly better outcomes than traditional growing rods is not yet known,
but early results are positive and the avoidance of open distractions is a great improvement," they
said.

One expert is optimistic about the new rods, but said more study is needed.

"This is exciting new technology, which has the potential of eliminating additional surgical
procedures in children with scoliosis," said Dr. Victor Khabie, co-director of the Orthopedic and
Spine Institute at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y.

He added, however, that "the downside is that with every new technology potential
complications can occur. The sample size is very small with just two patients being followed two
years after surgery.
"Many more patients will need to be enrolled in the trial and followed for many years before we
can say this new technology is safe and effective," Khabie said. "However, the very early
findings are encouraging."

And in a journal editorial, two experts noted that magnetically controlled rods are not yet
approved for use in the United States.

"If this technology was available in the U.S., we believe that it would be rapidly used to avoid
repetitive surgeries and improve quality of life for children with spinal deformity," wrote Dr.
John Smith, of the University of Utah School of Medicine, and Dr. Robert Campbell Jr., of the
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The two experts said they, "strongly encourage Cheung and colleagues to continue to report their
results -- both positive outcomes and adverse events. We are hopeful that further development of
the technology will make this treatment increasingly available to children worldwide."

More information
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has more about scoliosis.
SOURCES: Victor Khabie, M.D., chief, department of surgery, and co-director, Orthopedic and
Spine Institute, Northern Westchester Hospital, Mount Kisco, N.Y.; The Lancet, news release,
April 18, 2012
-- Robert Preidt
Last Updated: Apr 19, 2012

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