A Comparative Analysis of Revision Surgery Before or After 2 Years After Graduation From Growth-friendly Surgery for Early Onset Scoliosis.

INTRODUCTION: After discontinuation of growth-friendly (GF) surgery for early onset scoliosis, patients are termed graduates: they undergo a spinal fusion, are observed after final lengthening with GF implant maintenance, or are observed after GF implant removal. The purpose of this study was to compare the rates of and reasons for revision surgery in two cohorts of GF graduates: before or after 2 years of follow-up from graduation. METHODS: A pediatric spine registry was queried for patients who underwent GF spine surgery with a minimum of 2 years of follow-ups after graduation by clinical and/or radiographic evidence. Scoliosis etiology, graduation strategy, number of, and reasons for revision surgery were queried. RESULTS: There were 834 patients with a minimum of 2-year follow-up after graduation who were analyzed. There were 241 (29%) congenital, 271 (33%) neuromuscular, 168 (20%) syndromic, and 154 (18%) idiopathic. 803 (96%) had traditional growing rod/vertical expandable titanium rib as their GF construct and 31 (4%) had magnetically controlled growing rod. Five hundred ninety-six patients (71%) underwent spinal fusion at graduation, 208 (25%) had GF implants retained, and 30 (4%) had GF implants removed.In the entire cohort, there were 108/834 (13%) patients who underwent revision surgery. Of the revisions, 71/108 (66%) occurred as acute revisions (ARs) between 0 and 2 years from graduation (mean 0.6 y), and the most common AR indication was infection (26/71, 37%). The remaining 37/108 (34%) patients underwent delayed revision (DR) surgery >2 years (mean 3.8 y) from graduation, and the most common DR indication was implant issues (17/37, 46%).Graduation strategy affected revision rates. Of the 596 patients with spinal fusion as a graduation strategy, 98/596 (16%) underwent revision, compared with only 8/208 (4%) patients who had their GF implants retained, and 2/30 (7%) that had their GF implants removed ( P ≤ 0.001).A significantly higher percentage of the ARs had a spinal fusion as the graduation strategy (68/71, 96%) compared with 30/37 DRs, (81%, P = 0.015). In addition, the 71 patients who underwent AR undergo more revision surgeries (mean: 2, range: 1 to 7) than 37 patients who underwent DR (mean: 1, range: 1 to 2) ( P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this largest reported series of GF graduates to date, the overall risk of revision was 13%. Patients who undergo a revision at any time, as well as ARs in particular, are more likely to have a spinal fusion as their graduation strategy. Patients who underwent AR, on average, undergo more revision surgeries than patients who underwent DR. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, comparative.

Providence Bracing: Predicting the Progression to Surgery in Patients With Braced Idiopathic Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is a common spinal abnormality, in which orthotic management can reduce progression to surgery. However, predictors of bracing success are still not fully understood. We studied a large patient population treated with the nighttime Providence orthosis, utilizing multivariable logistic regression to assess results and predict future spine surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with IS meeting Scoliosis Research Society inclusion and assessment criteria presenting from April 1994 to June 2020 at a single institution and treated with a Providence orthosis. A predictive logistic regression model was developed utilizing the following candidate features: age, sex, body mass index, Risser classification, Lenke classification, curve magnitude at brace initiation, percentage correction in a brace, and total months of brace use. Model performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. The importance of individual features was assessed using the variable importance score. RESULTS: There were 329 consecutive patients with IS with a mean age of 12.8 ± 1.4 years that met inclusion and assessment criteria. Of these, 113 patients (34%) ultimately required surgery. The model's area under the curve (AUC) was 0.72 on the testing set, demonstrating good discrimination. The initial curve magnitude (Importance score: 100.0) and duration of bracing (Importance score: 82.4) were the 2 most predictive features for curve progression leading to surgery. With respect to skeletal maturity, Risser 1 (Importance score: 53.9) had the most predictive importance for future surgery. For the curve pattern, Lenke 6 (Importance score: 52.0) had the most predictive importance for future surgery. CONCLUSION: Out of 329 patients with IS treated with a Providence nighttime orthosis, 34% required surgery. This is similar to the findings of the BrAist study of the Boston orthosis, in which 28% of monitored braced patients required surgery. In addition, we found that predictive logistic regression can evaluate the likelihood of future spine surgery in patients treated with the Providence orthosis. The severity of the initial curve magnitude and total months of bracing were the 2 most important variables when assessing the probability of future surgery. Surgeons can use this model to counsel families on the potential benefits of bracing and risk factors for curve progression.

Definitive fusions are better than growing rod procedures for juvenile patients with cerebral palsy and scoliosis: a prospective comparative cohort study.

PURPOSE: This study compared the outcomes of juvenile patients with cerebral palsy (CP) and scoliosis who underwent spinal fusion (SF) versus growing rod (GR) surgery. METHODS: Two prospective multicenter registries were queried for patients 8-10 years old with minimum 2-year follow-up who underwent SF or GR surgery (no MCGR). Demographics, radiographs, complications, and outcome scores were recorded. RESULTS: There were 35 patients in the SF and 15 in the GR group. The mean age at surgery was 10 and 9.3 years in the SF and GR groups, respectively (p = 0.004). In the SF group preoperatively, the major curve measured 86° and 80° in the GR group (p = 0.40). "Definitive" surgery in the GR group consisted of SF in 10, implant retention in three, and implant removal in two. The SF group had 60.8% and the GR group had 45.0% correction following "definitive" surgery (p = 0.03). In the SF group, 8 patients and in the GR group, 9 patients (SF = 22.9%, GR = 60.0%) had a complication (p = 0.01). In the SF group, two patients (5.7%) had reoperations for infection; eight patients (53.3%) in the GR group had reoperations for infection and implant complications (p < 0.001). In the SF group, 23/30 parents (76.6%) noted that the child's life "improved a lot." In the GR group, 3/6 parents (50.0%) noted they were "neutral" about their child's ability to do things, 2/6 (33.3%) were "very dissatisfied." CONCLUSIONS: SF treatment for juvenile patients with CP and scoliosis resulted in fewer complications and unplanned reoperations and better radiographic outcomes compared with GR. Quality of life improvements were also better in the SF group. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Safety and efficacy of intrathecal morphine in early onset scoliosis surgery.

Intrathecal morphine (IM) is a popular adjunct for pain management in spinal deformity surgery for idiopathic scoliosis. It has not been studied in patients with early onset scoliosis (EOS). We retrospectively reviewed EOS patients undergoing growth-friendly surgery who received IM or did not receive IM (non-IM). Data from initial insertion and final fusion procedures were studied. IM was not used for lengthening procedures, short procedures (<3 h), patients with significant underlying respiratory issues, paraplegia, unsuccessful access and anesthesiologist discretion. We assessed pediatric ICU (PICU) admission and IM complications (respiratory depression, pruritus and nausea/vomiting), time to first postoperative opiate, and pain scores. There were 97 patients including 97 initial insertions (26 IM and 71 non-IM) and 74 patients with final fusions (17 IM and 57 non-IM). The first dose of opioids following insertion and final fusion occurred at 16.8 ± 3.8 and 16.8 ± 3.1 h postoperatively in the IM group compared to 5.5 ± 2.8 and 8.3 ± 3.2 h in the non-IM group, respectively ( P < 0.001). Postoperative pain scores were lower in the IM groups ( P = 0.001). Two patients with IM developed mild respiratory depression following initial insertion ( P = 0.01) but did not require PICU admission. The rate of respiratory depression was not different between the final fusion groups. There was no difference between pruritus and nausea/vomiting at the final fusion. Preincision IM can provide well-tolerated and effective initial postoperative analgesia in select children with EOS undergoing spinal deformity surgery.

Scoliosis flexibility correlates with post-operative outcomes following growth friendly surgery.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between pre-operative scoliosis flexibility and post-operative outcomes, including curve correction and complications, for patients who have been treated with growth friendly surgery (GFS) for early onset scoliosis (EOS). METHODS: The study was conducted as a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from an international, multicenter, EOS database. EOS patients with pre-operative flexibility radiographs (traction or bending) were identified. Pre-operative flexibility and immediate post-operative correction were calculated for each patient. Post-operative complications were recorded at final follow-up. Pearson correlations were determined for flexibility vs correction for all patients and were compared between etiologies and between device types (MCGR, TGR, VEPTR). RESULTS: 107 patients (14 congenital, 43 neuromuscular, 31 syndromic, 19 idiopathic) with mean age 7.1 years at index surgery were identified. Mean pre-operative scoliosis was 77°. Mean flexibility of 36% was not significantly different between etiologies. Mean immediate post-operative scoliosis was 46° (p < 0.001 vs. pre-operative) with mean correction of 38%. Correction rate was not significantly different between etiologies; however, correction rate was different between device types (MCGR 45%, TGR 40%, VEPTR 14%; p = < 0.001). Pearson correlation for flexibility vs correction was fair (r = 0.37, p < 0.001). This correlation was observed for idiopathic (r = 0.53, p = 0.020) and neuromuscular (r = 0.46, p = 0.0020) scoliosis, but not for congenital or syndromic scoliosis. At a mean of 6.1 year follow-up (minimum 2 years to 15.5 years), 60 of 81patients (74%) experienced at least one complication. Odds ratio for developing a complication was 3.00 (1.03-8.76) for patients with pre-operative flexibility < 45% (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As lower pre-operative flexibility was associated with less scoliosis correction and with a higher risk of post-operative complications, curve flexibility should be considered when deciding upon the timing of growth friendly surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective comparative study.

The Impact of Unplanned Return to the Operating Room on Health-related Quality of Life at the End of Growth-friendly Surgical Treatment for Early-onset Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Limiting complications, especially unplanned return to the operating room (UPROR), is a major focus in the surgical management of early-onset scoliosis (EOS). Although UPROR remains common in this population, its effect on long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between UPROR and end-of-treatment HRQoL in EOS patients treated with growth-friendly instrumentation. METHODS: Patients with EOS who underwent growth-friendly instrumentation at age less than 10 years from 1993 to 2018, and completed treatment, were identified in a multicenter EOS registry. UPROR events were recorded, and end-of-treatment (defined as skeletal maturity and/or definitive spinal fusion) HRQoL was assessed via the 24-item Early-Onset Scoliosis Questionnaire (EOSQ-24). RESULTS: A total of 825 patients were identified, and 325 patients (age at surgery: 6.4 y, follow-up: 8.1 y) had end-of-treatment HRQoL data necessary for our investigation. Overall, 129/325 (39.7%) patients experienced 264 UPROR events; the majority (54.2%) were implant-related. Aside from age and etiology, no other variables were determined to be confounders or effect modifiers. Congenital patients with UPROR had worse pain/discomfort by 10.4 points (P=0.057) and worse pulmonary function by 7.8 points (P=0.102) compared with non-UPROR patients adjusting for age. Neuromuscular patients with UPROR had worse pulmonary function by 10.1 points compared with non-UPROR patients adjusting for age (P=0.037). Idiopathic and syndromic patients with UPROR reported consistently worse domain scores than their non-UPROR counterparts, but smaller (<5-point) differences were seen. CONCLUSIONS: UPROR during growth-friendly surgical treatment for EOS is associated with worse HRQoL in all patients, but particularly in those with neuromuscular or congenital etiologies. Ongoing efforts to avoid UPROR are critical. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II. This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study investigating the effect of UPROR on HRQoL (prognostic study).

Treatment of Early-onset Scoliosis: Similar Outcomes Despite Different Etiologic Subtypes in Traditional Growing Rod Graduates.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether traditional growing rod (TGR) treatment outcomes vary by early-onset scoliosis (EOS) subtype. The goal of this study was to compare radiographic outcomes and complications of TGR treatment by EOS subtype. METHODS: We queried an international database of EOS patients from 20 centers to identify "graduates" who had (1) undergone primary TGR treatment from 1993 to 2014; (2) completed TGR treatment; and (3) had an uneventful clinical examination within 6 months after completion of TGR treatment with no anticipated further intervention. We included 202 patients in 4 etiologic subgroups: neuromuscular (n=65), syndromic (n=57), idiopathic (n=52), and congenital (n=28). Mean age at surgery was 7.1 years (range, 1.6 to 14.9 y); mean duration of follow-up was 8 years (range, 2 to 18.6 y). The groups did not differ by mean age, body mass index, sex, number of lengthenings, or duration of follow-up. The following preoperative differences were significant: (1) greater mean major curve in the neuromuscular versus idiopathic subgroup; (2) shorter spinal height (T1-S1) in the congenital versus idiopathic subgroup; and (3) smaller proportion of ambulatory patients in the neuromuscular subgroup versus all other subgroups. RESULTS: We found no significant differences among subgroups in mean major curve correction or changes in thoracic height (T1-T12), spinal height, or global kyphosis at any point. Rates of deep surgical site infection, implant-related complications, and neurological complications were not different among subgroups. The medical complication rate was significantly lower in the idiopathic group compared with the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Major curve correction and spinal and thoracic height increases did not differ significantly at any point by EOS subtype. Rates of deep surgical site infection, implant-related complications, and neurological complications did not differ by subtype. Except for the lower rate of medical complications in the idiopathic group, our findings suggest that, after TGR treatment, patients can expect similar outcomes regardless of their EOS subtype. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic.

Matched Comparison of Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods with Traditional Growing Rods in Severe Early-Onset Scoliosis of ≥90°: An Interim Report on Outcomes 2 Years After Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Severe early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is managed surgically but represents a challenge due to limited implant fixation points, large curve size, and fragile patients with comorbidities. Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) have the advantage of avoiding surgical intervention for routine lengthening, but their ability to address severe EOS has not been studied, to our knowledge. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected international database identified 44 children with severe (≥90°) EOS treated with MCGRs who met our study criteria. Etiology, age, and sex-matched patients treated with traditional growing rods (TGRs) were identified from the same database. Patients were evaluated at a 2-year follow-up. No patients with vertically expandable prosthetic titanium ribs (VEPTRs) were included. The health-related quality of life was evaluated with the 24-Item Early Onset Scoliosis Questionnaire (EOSQ-24). RESULTS: The mean preoperative major coronal curve was 104° in the MCGR group and 104° in the TGR group. At the 2-year follow-up, the mean major coronal curves were 52° and 66° (p = 0.001), respectively. The mean T1-T12 heights were 155 mm and 152 mm preoperatively and 202 mm and 192 mm at the 2-year follow-up (p = 0.088). According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, the 2-year unplanned-revision-free survival was 91% in the MCGR group and 71% in the TGR group (p < 0.005). The 2-year score in the EOSQ-24 pulmonary function domain was better in the MCGR group. There were no other significant differences in the EOSQ-24 scores between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: MCGRs for severe EOS provided significantly better major curve correction with significantly fewer unplanned revisions than TGRs at a 2-year follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

No Difference in the Rates of Unplanned Return to the Operating Room Between Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods and Traditional Growth Friendly Surgery for Children With Cerebral Palsy.

BACKGROUND: Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is common in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The effectiveness of magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) and the risk for unplanned return to the operating room (UPROR) remain to be studied in this patient population. The primary outcome of this study was to examine the frequency of UPROR between MCGRs as compared with traditional growth friendly (TGF) surgeries for children with EOS secondary to CP. METHODS: Patients with EOS secondary to CP were prospectively identified from an international database, with data retrospectively analyzed. Scoliosis, kyphosis, T1-S1, and T1-T12 height were measured preoperation, immediate postoperation, and at minimum 2-year follow-up. The risk and etiology of UPRORs were compared between MCGR and TGF. RESULTS: Of the 120 patients that met inclusion criteria, 86 received TGF (age 7.5±0. 1.8 y; mean follow-up 7.0±2.9 y) and 34 received MCGR (age 7.1±2.2 y, mean follow-up 2.8±0.0.5 y). Compared with TGF, MCGR resulted in significant improvements in maintenance of scoliosis (P=0.007). At final follow-up, UPRORs were 8 of 34 patients (24%) for MCGR and 37 of 86 patients (43%) for TGF (P=0.05). To minimize the influence of follow-up period, UPRORs within the first 2 years postoperation were evaluated: MCGR (7 of 34 patients, 21%) versus TGF (20 of 86 patients, 23%; P=0.75). Within the first 2 years, etiology of UPROR as a percentage of all patients per group were deep infection (13% TGF, 6% MCGR), implant failure/migration (12% TGF, 9% MCGR), dehiscence (4% TGF, 3% MCGR), and superficial infection (4% TGF, 3% MCGR). The most common etiology of UPROR for TGF was deep infection and for MCGR was implant failure/migration. CONCLUSION: For patients with EOS secondary to CP, there was no difference in the risk of UPROR within the first 2 years postoperatively whether treated with TGF surgery or with MCGRs (23% TGF, 21% MCGR). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective cohort, therapeutic study.

Surgical site infections in early onset scoliosis: what are long-term outcomes in patients with traditional growing rods?

PURPOSE: Deep surgical site infections (SSIs) are a common and potentially severe complication in early onset scoliosis (EOS) patients. We sought to identify the long-term outcomes following SSI, specific risk factors associated with recurrent infections, and if instrument retention is a prudent SSI management strategy in EOS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all EOS patients who underwent traditional growing rod spine procedures from 2003 to 2017. Infections were categorized as single or multiple SSIs. All infections were treated with operative irrigation and debridement (I&D) as well as antibiotics. Univariate analysis was performed using chi-square and ANOVA tests to assess differing factors between patients with single versus multiple infections. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients underwent 638 growth-friendly traditional growing rod procedures. There were 21 patients (26%) who developed a total of 27 SSIs (4.2% SSI per procedure). Fifteen patients had a single infection and six patients had multiple infections. Demographics were not significantly different between these two groups. Patients with multiple infections had a significant difference in the number of procedures after initial infection (p value = 0.025) and positive preoperative nasal Staphylococcus aureus screen (p value = 0.0021) when compared to those with a single SSI. Of note, these results were not available at the time of pre-operative antibiotic selection. All 21 patients had resolution of their SSIs. Twenty patients reached final instrumented fusion. Two patients, both of whom had multiple infections, underwent complete removal of instrumentation. Reasons included one each, parental request resulting in termination of treatment and infection > 7 years after final fusion. CONCLUSION: Most patients who develop SSIs during growing spine treatment are able to remain instrumented. Risk factors associated with developing multiple SSIs include infection earlier in the course of growing spine surgery, a resultant higher number of procedures following the initial infection and having a positive preoperative nasal Staphylococcus aureus screen. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Baclofen Pump Use: Complications After Growth-friendly Instrumentation for Early-onset Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with early-onset scoliosis (EOS) and spasticity may receive treatment with an intrathecal baclofen pump. We assessed how baclofen pumps are associated with the odds of complications and secondary interventions after growth-friendly (GF) spine surgery for EOS and analyzed infectious complications within the pump cohort. METHODS: Using a prospectively maintained, international multicenter database, we studied patients with neuromuscular EOS with baclofen pumps who underwent GF spine surgery from 2002 through 2019 (n=25). Baclofen pumps were implanted before GF instrumentation in 18 patients, during in 2 patients, and after in 5 patients. Patients with existing pumps at initial GF spine surgery were matched 1:3 with 54 patients (control group) without pumps according to treatment center, year of surgery, diagnosis, surgery type, and preoperative curve magnitude. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed to compare complications and secondary interventions between the 2 cohorts. RESULTS: Patients with baclofen pumps had 4.8 times the odds [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5-16] of experiencing any complication within 1 year after initial GF spine surgery compared with controls. During mean follow-up of 6.9±4.3 years, they had 4.7 times the odds (95% CI: 1.3-16) of deep surgical site infection and 5.6 times the odds (95% CI: 1.2-26) of spinal rod removal after any complication. Differences in rates of mechanical complication, such as rod migration and breakage, were nonsignificant between the 2 groups. For the 9 patients (50%) with pumps who experienced infections, the most common microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus (4 patients) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2). The pump/catheter was revised or removed, in addition to antibiotic therapy or surgical irrigation and debridement, in 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with neuromuscular EOS, those with baclofen pumps are much more likely to experience complications within 1 year after GF spine surgery. They are also more likely to have deep surgical site infections, with S. aureus and P. aeruginosa being the most common causative organisms, and to require spinal rod removal. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective comparative study.

Postoperative Correction in Idiopathic Scoliosis: Which Preoperative Imaging Technique Is Most Predictive?

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative radiographic assessment of curve flexibility in patients with idiopathic scoliosis is important to determine Lenke classification, operative levels, and potential postoperative correction. However, no consensus exists regarding the optimal technique. We compared measurements from supine side bending (SB) and intraoperative traction radiographs under general anesthesia (TUGA) with actual postoperative correction followed for 1 year. METHODS: We identified 235 patients with idiopathic scoliosis who underwent posterior spinal fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation between 2010 and 2018 who had preoperative and postoperative radiographs including standing posterior-anterior (PA) and lateral radiographs, preoperative SB radiographs, and TUGA radiographs. Curves were categorized into proximal thoracic, main thoracic/thoracolumbar (MT), and distal thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) curves. Flexibility was calculated from SB and TUGA radiographs. Correction rates were calculated from 1 month and 1 year radiographs postoperatively. Bending radiographs that correlated significantly with postoperative correction with P<0.10 were eligible for inclusion. Preoperative demographics, etiology, deformity details, and surgical details were included in the multivariate models. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, TUGA radiographs correlated with postoperative correction at 1 month and 1 year on MT curves (r=0.214, P=0.001; r=0.209, P=0.001) and TL/L curves (r=0.280, P<0.001; r=0.181, P=0.006). Supine SB radiographs did not correlate with postoperative correction on either MT or T/TL curves. On multivariate analysis, major curve TUGA radiographs were independently associated with postoperative MT curve correction at 1 month (beta: 0.158, 95% confidence interval: 0.035-0.280, P=0.012) and 1 year (beta: 0.195, 95% confidence interval: 0.049-0.340, P=0.009). MT curve SB radiographs were not associated with postoperative major curve correction at 1 month (P=0.088). CONCLUSIONS: TUGA radiographs independently correlated with postoperative main thoracic and distal thoracolumbar/lumbar curve correction at 1 month and 1 year postoperatively. SB radiographs independently correlated only with TL/L curve correction at 1 year postoperatively. However, this correlation was not as strong as TUGA correction (beta of 0.280 vs. beta of 0.092). TUGA radiographs appear superior to SB radiographs at predicting curve correction after surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Prevalence of junctional kyphosis in early-onset scoliosis: can it be corrected at final fusion?

PURPOSE: To investigate the risk and predictive factors of junctional issues after conversion from Traditional growing rod (TGR) to definitive spinal fusion in Early-onset scoliosis (EOS). METHODS: Retrospective review of a multicenter EOS database. TGR patients who received final fusion with at least two-year follow-up were included. Proximal (PJA) and Distal junctional angles (DJA) on pre-final fusion, post-final fusion (within one year of surgery), and at latest follow-up were measured on lateral upright spinal radiographs. Differences in values among designated time points and predictive factors of junctional issues were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: Forty-six of 251 patients (28 females, 18 males and mean age at final fusion: 12 ± 2 [9-17] years) met the inclusion criteria. Mean follow-up between first postoperative measurement and latest follow-up was 49 ± 22 (24-112) months. No statistical differences in PJA and DJA values were available at pre-fusion, first post-fusion, or latest follow-up (p = 0.827, p = 0.076). Fifty percent of patients had extension of TGR instrumentation at fusion, either proximal or distal. No factor including sex and etiology, lumbar lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, major curve magnitude, PJA, and DJA at pre-fusion was found to be a predictive issue for extension of index TGR instrumentation, except the history of at least one implant-related complication during the period from index surgery to the definitive fusion. CONCLUSION: PJA and DJA remained stable when transitioning from TGR to final posterior spinal fusion. But 50% of patients had extension of construction at fusion, either proximal or distal.

How low can you go? Implant density in posterior spinal fusion converted from growing constructs for early onset scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, multicenter comparative. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to compare early onset scoliosis (EOS) patients treated with ultra-low, low, and high implant density constructs when undergoing conversion to definitive fusion. Larson et al. demonstrated that implant density (ID) at fusion does not correlate with outcomes in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, but did not address growth-friendly graduates. METHODS: EOS patients treated with growth-friendly constructs converted to fusion between 2000 and 2017 were reviewed from a multicenter database. ID was defined as number of pedicle screws, hooks, and sublaminar/bands per level fused. Patients were divided into ultra-low ID (< 1.3), low (≥ 1.3 and < 1.6), and high ID (≥ 1.6). EXCLUSION CRITERIA: < 2 years follow-up from fusion or inadequate radiographs. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients met inclusion criteria with 39 (26%) patients in the high ID group, 33 (22%) patients in the low ID group, and 80 (52%) in the ultra-low ID group. Groups were similar in operative time (p = 0.61), pre-fusion major curve (p = 0.71), mean number of levels fused (p = 0.58), clinical follow-up (p = 0.30), and radiographic follow-up (p = 0.90). Patients in the low ID group (11.6 ± 1.5 years) were slightly younger at the time of definitive fusion than patients in the ultra-low ID group (12.9 ± 2.2 years) and high ID group (12.5 ± 1.7 years) (p = 0.009). There was significantly more blood loss in the high ID group than the other two groups (high ID: 946.8 ± 606.0 mL vs. low ID: 733.9 ± 434.5 mL and ultra-low ID: 617.4 ± 517.2 mL; p = 0.01), but there was no significant difference with regard to percent of total blood volume lost (high ID: 59.3 ± 48.7% vs. low ID: 54.5 ± 37.5% vs. ultra-low ID: 51.7 ± 54.9%; p = 0.78). There was a difference in initial improvement in major curve between the groups (high ID: 21.6° vs. low ID: 18.0° vs. ultra-low ID: 12.6°; p = 0.01). However, during post-fusion follow-up, correction decreased 7.1° in the high ID group, 2.6 in the low ID group, and 2.8 in the ultra-low ID group (p = 0.19). At final follow-up, major curve correction from pre-fusion was similar between groups (high ID: 14.5° vs. low ID: 15.5° vs. ultra-low ID: 9.7°, p = 0.14). At final follow-up, there was no difference in T1-T12 length gain (p = 0.85), T1-S1 length gain (p = 0.68), coronal balance (p = 0.56), or sagittal balance (p = 0.71). The revision rate was significantly higher in the ultra-low ID group (13.8%; 11/80) versus the high ID group (2/39; 5.1%) and low ID group (0/33; 0%) (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Although an ID < 1.3 in growth-friendly graduates produces similar outcomes with regard to curve correction and spinal length gain as low and high ID, this study suggests that an ID < 1.3 is associated with an increased revision rate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The safety and efficacy of intrathecal morphine in pediatric spinal deformity surgery: a 25-year single-center experience.

PURPOSE: Pre-incision intrathecal morphine (IM) is a popular adjunct in adolescent idiopathic spinal deformity surgery. This study represents our 25-year experience with IM in all diagnostic groups undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) and segmental instrumentation (SI). METHODS: Our prospective Pediatric Orthopaedic Spine Database (1992-2018) identified all patients undergoing PSF and SI. We included patients 21 years of age or less, had a PSF with SSI, and received the recommended IM dose of 9-19 mcg/kg (up to 1 mg) or no IM. We assessed demographics, pain scores, duration of surgery, time to first dose of narcotics, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, length of hospital stay, and IM complications (respiratory depression, pruritus, nausea/vomiting). RESULTS: There were 984 patients who met inclusion criteria: 760 patients received IM, 224 did not (non-IM). They were divided into 5 diagnostic groups: idiopathic, neuromuscular, syndromic, and congenital scoliosis and kyphosis. The mean first post-operative opioid following IM administration was at 16.1 h in the IM group compared to 8.7 h in the non-IM group (p = < 0.001). The post-operative pain scores in the IM groups were significantly lower (p = < 0.001). Sixteen patients (2%) in the IM group were admitted to the PICU for observation secondary to respiratory depression, none requiring re-intubation. There were no other complications related to IM. CONCLUSION: Pre-incision IM is a safe adjunct for pain management in select children in all diagnostic groups undergoing spinal deformity surgery. There were no serious complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Purposeful Closed Reduction and Pinning in Unstable Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis Results in a Rate of Avascular Necrosis Comparable to the Literature Mean.

The standard treatment of stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is generally accepted to be in situ pinning. Controversy exists regarding the treatment of unstable SCFE, including the role of a purposeful closed reduction or open reduction. The objective of this study was to investigate the rate of avascular necrosis (AVN) with purposeful closed reduction and in situ pinning of unstable SCFE. The authors retrospectively reviewed 221 patients with 302 SCFE hips treated with in situ pinning between 2000 and 2014. Forty-eight patients (50 hips) presented with an unstable SCFE. All unstable SCFEs were treated by a gentle reduction method with traction and hip internal rotation followed by pinning. Southwick angles were measured prior to reduction and at the first postoperative visit. No stable SCFEs developed AVN. Thirteen (26%) unstable SCFEs developed AVN. Avascular necrosis developed in 7 of 17 (41%) hips screened with magnetic resonance imaging vs 6 of 33 (18%) hips screened with plain radiographs alone. Mean change in Southwick angle was 28°±8° in the AVN group vs 18°±18° in the no AVN group (P=.18). Despite potentially inflating the rate with the use of early detection magnetic resonance imaging, the authors found an AVN rate comparable to that in the published literature with the use of gentle purposeful reduction on a fracture table, and no statistical differences in reduction amount between patients with and without AVN. Gentle purposeful reduction appears to be a reasonable low morbidity option in the treatment of unstable SCFE without a clear increase in risk of AVN. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(2):92-97.].

Growth-friendly surgery results in more growth but a higher complication rate and unplanned returns to the operating room compared to single fusion in neuromuscular early-onset scoliosis: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Compare radiographic outcomes, complications, and QoL in neuromuscular early-onset scoliosis (EOS) patients treated with single posterior spinal fusion (PSF) versus growth-friendly surgery and definitive fusion (GFDF). METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, children with neuromuscular EOS, age 8-11 years at index surgery with PSF or GF devices, with minimum 2-year follow-up after final fusion were identified from a multicenter database. RESULTS: 16 PSF and 43 GFDF patients were analyzed. Demographics were similar except PSF patients were older at index surgery and had shorter follow-up. PSF patients had greater percentage major curve correction (62% vs 38%, p = 0.001) and smaller major curve at final follow-up (23° vs 40°, p = 0.005). The GFDF group underwent over five times more surgeries (8.7 vs 1.6, p = 0.0001). Four PSF patients (25%) experienced ten complications, resulting in five unplanned returns to the operating room (UPROR) in three patients (19%). 36 GFDF patients (84%) experienced 83 complications, resulting in 45 UPRORs in 24 patients (56%). Poisson regression adjusted for age showed that the GFDF group had more complications (p = 0.001) and UPRORs (p = 0.01). Although the GFDF patients had smaller preoperative T1-T12 and T1-S1 lengths, these were similar to the PSF patients at final follow-up, indicating that the GFDF patients had greater spinal growth. PSF patients had better postoperative EOSQ-24 Financial Impact and Family Burden scores. CONCLUSION: While there was a difference in age at index surgery, PSF may be more effective than GFDF at controlling neuromuscular EOS. GFDF patients achieved more spinal growth but eight times more complications and nine times more UPRORs.

Is There Value in Venous Thromboembolism Chemoprophylaxis After Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery? A 28-Year Single Center Study.

BACKGROUND: With a recognized increase in the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in children, especially in those with complex, chronic conditions, it is important for patient safety and risk management to identify subgroups that would benefit from prophylactic treatment. The aim of our study was to assess whether scoliosis surgery in children was associated with an increased incidence of VTE, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism, and if chemoprophylaxis is warranted. METHODS: We reviewed our institution's Pediatric Orthopaedic Spine Database (1992-2019) to identify patients who had a symptomatic VTE postoperatively. RESULTS: There were 1471 patients (1035 female, 436 male) with a mean age at surgery of 12.1±3.2 years (range, 1 to 18 y) underwent posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation (2131 procedures). No patients were given pharmacological VTE prophylaxis, and no routine screening for VTE was performed. Two patients had a lower extremity DVT (0.13%) within 6 months following surgery, (range, 55 to 161 d). Neither patient had a subsequent pulmonary embolism. They were 9 and 17 years of age with a diagnosis of neuromuscular scoliosis (1 each postpolio and myelodysplasia). One affected patient had a central venous line inserted perioperatively, a known risk factor for thromboembolism. All DVTs were treated with appropriately dosed anticoagulants. None had a family history of hypercoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of symptomatic VTE is extraordinarily low after pediatric spinal deformity surgery. Mechanical prophylaxis is sufficient in most cases. Further multi-center studies may help identify patient specific risk factors.

Growth-Friendly Spine Surgery in Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita.

BACKGROUND: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is a condition that describes neonates born with ≥2 distinct congenital contractures. Despite spinal deformity in 3% to 69% of patients, inadequate data exist on growth-friendly instrumentation (GFI) in AMC. Our study objectives were to describe current GFI trends in children with AMC and early-onset scoliosis (EOS) and to compare long-term outcomes with a matched idiopathic EOS (IEOS) cohort to determine whether spinal rigidity or extremity contractures influenced outcomes. METHODS: Children with AMC and spinal deformity of ≥30° who were treated with GFI for ≥24 months were identified from a multicenter EOS database (1993 to 2017). Propensity scoring matched 35 patients with AMC to 112 patients with IEOS with regard to age, sex, construct, and curve. Multivariable linear mixed modeling compared changes in spinal deformity and the 24-item Early Onset Scoliosis Questionnaire (EOSQ-24) across cohorts. Cohort complications and reoperations were analyzed using multivariable Poisson regression. RESULTS: Preoperatively, groups did not differ with regard to age (p = 0.87), sex (p = 0.96), construct (p = 0.62), rate of nonoperative treatment (p = 0.54), and major coronal curve magnitude (p = 0.96). After the index GFI, patients with AMC had reduced percentage of coronal correction (35% compared with 44%; p = 0.01), larger residual coronal curves (49° compared with 42°; p = 0.03), and comparable percentage of kyphosis correction (17% compared with 21%; p = 0.52). In GFI graduates (n = 81), final coronal curve magnitude (55° compared with 43°; p = 0.22) and final sagittal curve magnitude (47° compared with 47°; p = 0.45) were not significantly different at the latest follow-up after definitive surgery. The patients with AMC had reduced T1-S1 length (p < 0.001), comparable T1-S1 growth velocity (0.66 compared with 0.85 mm/month; p = 0.05), and poorer EOSQ-24 scores at the time of the latest follow-up (64 compared with 83 points; p < 0.001). After adjusting for ambulatory status and GFI duration, patients with AMC developed 51% more complications (incidence rate ratio, 1.51 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11 to 2.04]; p = 0.009) and 0.2 more complications/year (95% CI, 0.02 to 0.33 more; p = 0.03) compared with patients with IEOS. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AMC and EOS experienced less initial deformity correction after the index surgical procedure, but final GFI curve magnitudes and total T1-S1 growth during active treatment were statistically and clinically comparable with IEOS. Nonambulatory patients with AMC with longer GFI treatment durations developed the most complications. Multidisciplinary perioperative management is necessary to optimize GFI and to improve quality of life in this complex population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

A report of two conservative approaches to early onset scoliosis: serial casting and bracing.

PURPOSE: Previous reports have demonstrated the effectiveness of casting for EOS. Brace treatment for EOS has not been studied. The purpose of this multicenter retrospective study was to compare radiographic outcomes, complications, and rates of conversion to surgery in children with EOS treated with casting or bracing. METHODS: Children aged 2-6 years with idiopathic or neuromuscular EOS treated with casting or bracing with minimum follow-up of 2 years were identified. RESULTS: 68 patients (36 cast, 32 brace) were analyzed. Diagnosis, age at start of treatment, and duration of follow-up were similar. Although the cast patients had a larger pre-treatment major curve magnitude (50° vs 31°, p < 0.001), both groups had a similar major curve magnitude at most recent follow-up (36° vs 32°, p = 0.456). T1-T12 and T1-S1 length increased in both groups. The cast and brace patients had similar complications and conversions to surgery. Sub-analysis showed that while casting resulted in curve improvement regardless of etiology, bracing was able to prevent curve progression in patients with idiopathic EOS but not in patients with non-idiopathic EOS (Δ- 15° vs 27°, p = 0.006). Regression analysis (significance p = 0.10) controlling for baseline age, major curve magnitude, and T1-T12 and T1-S1 length showed that treatment method was associated with difference in major curve magnitude (p = 0.090) and T1-T12 length (p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: In our study, serial casting led to curve improvement in children with idiopathic and neuromuscular EOS, whereas brace treatment appeared to prevent curve progression in patients with idiopathic EOS but did not appear to control the curve in neuromuscular EOS.