Can distraction-based surgeries achieve minimum 18 cm thoracic height for patients with early onset scoliosis?

Purpose: Karol et al. introduced the concept that 18 cm thoracic height is the critical point where a patient with early onset scoliosis (EOS) can maintain adequate pulmonary function. Our purpose was to determine if distraction-based surgeries will increase thoracic spine height to at least 18 cm in patients with EOS.

Distraction-based surgeries increase thoracic sagittal spine length after ten lengthening surgeries for patients with idiopathic early-onset scoliosis.

Study Design: Retrospective, comparative, multicenter.

Objectives: To determine if the choice of proximal anchor affects thoracic sagittal spine length (SSL) for children with idiopathic early-onset scoliosis (EOS). Debate exists as to whether spine growth is maintained during treatment for EOS.

Distraction-Based Surgeries Increase Spine Length for Patients With Nonidiopathic Early-Onset Scoliosis-5-Year Follow-up.

Study Design: Retrospective, comparative.

Objectives: To determine if distraction-based surgeries will increase spine length in patients with nonidiopathic EOS and whether etiology affects final spine length.

Summary Of Background Data: As early-onset scoliosis (EOS) has many etiologies, it is unclear whether etiology affects the spine length achieved with distraction-based surgeries.

Paper #29: Does the Type of Proximal Anchor Used During Distraction-Based Surgeries for Patients With Non-Idiopathic EOS Affect Spine Length?

At minimum 5 yr f/u, distraction-based surgeries (Spine-based (SB)&Rib-based (RB)) are an effective way to increase spine length for non-idiopathic EOS. Spine length is greater for spine based implants pre-operatively and this length is maintained to the 15th lengthening; however, if normalized to pre-op spine length, rib-based implants achieved greater percentage of increase in spine length beyond the 10th lengthening surgeries.