Magnet Expandable Rods a Promising Technology which can Lead to Catastrophic Failure
Early-onset scoliosis is an umbrella term coined to describe any
form of scoliosis that starts before ten years of age.
The first decade of life is characterized by significant growth and
development in body organs and functions. Abnormal spinal curvatures
at this critical age may adversely impact the growth and expansion
of the thoracic cage and the lungs, as the growth of both is interdependent.
There is mounting evidence suggesting that patients
who develop scoliosis before ten years of age are at increased risk
of developing respiratory failure secondary to thoracic insufficiency syndrome,
the inability of the thorax to support normal lung
growth and development.
In other words, treating early-onset
scoliosis transcends correcting the aesthetic part of the deformity
to preserving lung development and improving patients’ survival.
Both conservative and operative measures are used to
treat early-onset scoliosis. Physicians often resolve to bracing,
serial casting, and even traction to postpone or sometimes obviate
the need for more aggressive surgeries.
If done at such young ages, traditional fusion surgery might lead
to undesirable consequences ranging from failure to halt curve progression
to severely stunting growth.
All in all, neither conservative means nor fusion surgery is
flawless, with each having its trade-offs and drawbacks
Recently, significant momentum has been seen in using
what is now called growth-friendly implants.
These devices offer the opportunity to treat spinal deformity
while maximizing growth potential and thoracic expansion at the same time.
Occasionally, this effect can be so dramatic, obviating the need for fusion surgeries altogether.
Orthop Res Traumatol Open J. 2020; 5(1): 21-24. doi: 10.17140/ORTOJ-5-120
