Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: Spine
Abstract number: 25896
THE DUAL GROWING ROD METHOD USING PEDICLE SCREWS AS
FOUNDATION IN THE BOTH OF UPPER AND LOWER INSTRUMENTED
VERTEBRAE
Ken YAMAZAKI, Hideki MURAKAMI
Iwate Medical University, Morioka (JAPAN)
Introduction: The treatment of early onset scoliosis remains one of the more
challenging aspects of spine surgery. The dual growing rod method provided good
maintenance of curve correction. We fundamentally choose the pedicle screws as
foundation in both upper and lower instrumented vertebrae, because strong construct
using pedicle screws could allow correcting the curve earlier and keeping up with the
growth of the spine. Method : Six patients were treated with a dual growing rod
system with pedicle screws as a foundation in both ends from 01/2006 to 01/2009.
The average age of 6 patients (Boy : Girl = 5:1) was 6.1 years (2 - 8). Diagnosis were
idiopathic scoliosis ( 1 ), SOTOS ( 1 ), myelomeningocele ( 1 ), NF1 ( 1 ), and
miscellaneous ( 2 ). All patients were followed for a minimum of 1Y (12 - 48). Results:
Preop. Cobb’s angle was an average of 68.7 degrees (43 - 93). Postop. Cobb’s angle
decreased to an average of 28.7 degrees (13 - 52). The Correction rate was an
average of 60.2% (44 - 73). There were no major complications in any of the
patients. Conclusion: The growing rod instrumentation with pedicle screws on both
ends is a safe and effective method in controlling curve of EOS earlier in all three
planes. With a careful technique, previously reported high complication rates in the
growing rod system can be considerably decreased.
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