Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: Spine
Abstract number: 26319
EARLY ONSET SCOLIOSIS: THE VALUE OF SERIAL RISSER CASTS
George THOMPSON, Sean WALDRON, Connie POE-KOCHERT, Jochen SON-
HING
Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland (UNITED STATES)
Purpose: We conducted a retrospective review of our results of serial Risser casting
in the treatment of progressive early onset scoliosis (EOS). Methods: Fifteen
consecutive patients with EOS were evaluated. We analyzed their age, gender,
diagnosis, previous treatment, curvature at the initiation of Risser casting, the
number of casts, their response to casting and the transition to subsequent
treatment. Results: There were 7 patients with idiopathic scoliosis, 4 with syndromic
scoliosis, and 4 with neuromuscular scoliosis. The mean age was 3.5 years (range, 2
to 7 years) when casting was initiated. At the time of analysis, 2 patients had
undergone growing rod surgery, 6 patients were returned to bracing, 6 patients were
still undergoing casting, and one patient had been lost to follow-up. The mean
curvature at the initiation of casting was 75° (ran ge, 40 to 118°), and at the time of
placement of the last cast was 46° (range, 20 to 95 °). The mean length of cast
treatment was 19 months (range, 10 to 29 months). There were 3 minor
complications (skin irritation) associated with cast placement. Conclusions: Our
results support serial Risser casting as safe and effective intermediate method of
treatment for EOS. It can stabilize relatively large curves until the child reaches a
more suitable age to change their method of treatment.
452