Clinical and radiological outcome of the growing rod technique in the management of scoliosis in young children

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of growing rod treatment on the clinical and radiographic outcome and respiratory function of young children with scoliosis. Methods: Data from 25 patients (24 females, 1 male) who underwent surgical treatment with growing rods for scoliosis between 1997 and 2007 were evaluated retrospectively. Dual growing rods were used in 16 patients and single growing rods in 9. Patients' average age was 7.38 +/- 3.8 years at the initial surgery. Cobb angle, T1-S1 length, and instrumentation length were measured radiographically. Respiratory functions were evaluated at the final follow-up. Results: Patients received an average of 4.2 lengthening treatments over an average period of 44.9 months. Cobb angles improved from 56.7 degrees to 25.1 degrees after final fusion. T1-S1 length increased from 27.2 +/- 3.4 to 34.9 +/- 3.6 cm after the initial surgery and 38.6 +/- 3.7 cm post final fusion. Average growth was 1 +/- 0.4 cm per year. Mean values of respiratory parameters at the last follow-up were FVC: 83.5 +/- 3.5, FEV: 84.8 +/- 5.3, and FVC/FEV1: 1 +/- 0.046. Twelve patients experienced complications, of which eight were instrument-related and four medical. Conclusion: The growing rod technique is effective in the treatment of spinal deformity in young scoliosis patients and appropriate for improving both spinal column height and pulmonary function