Affiliation:
1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Spine Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China;
2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Spine Surgery, Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Jiangsu University, Nanjing, China
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of preoperative halo-gravity traction (HGT) with subsequent growing rod (GR) treatment in patients with severe early-onset scoliosis (EOS).
METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed a cohort of patients with severe EOS who had received preoperative HGT with subsequent GR treatment at their center between January 2008 and January 2020. Patients with a Cobb angle in the coronal or sagittal plane that was > 90° were included. All patients received at least 6 weeks of HGT before GR placement. Results of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and blood gas tests were compared before and after HGT. Radiological parameters were compared pre-HGT, post-HGT, postindex surgery, and at the latest follow-up.
RESULTS
A total of 28 patients (17 boys and 11 girls, mean age 6.1 ± 2.3 years) were included in this study. After a mean of 65.2 ± 22.9 days of traction, the Cobb angle decreased from 101.4° ± 12.5° to 74.5° ± 19.3° (change rate 26.5%), and the kyphosis angle decreased from 71.1° ± 21.2° to 42.7° ± 9.5° (change rate 39.9%). There was a significant improvement in BMI but a decrease in hemoglobin levels following HGT. No HGT-related complications were recorded except pin site infections in 2 patients. Statistically significant improvements in PFTs after HGT were observed in forced vital capacity (FVC) (p = 0.011), the percentage predicted FVC (p = 0.007), FEV1 (p = 0.015), and the percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (p = 0.005). Fourteen patients received assisted ventilation due to preoperative hypoxia, alveolar hypoventilation, or hypercapnia. Significant improvement was seen in PaCO2 (p = 0.008), PaO2 (p = 0.005), actual bicarbonate (p = 0.005), and oxygen saturation (p = 0.012) in these patients. After the index surgery, the Cobb angle decreased to 49.5° ± 18.9° and the kyphosis angle decreased to 36.2° ± 25.8°. After a mean of 4.3 ± 1.4 lengthening procedures, the Cobb angle was 56.5° ± 15.8°, and the kyphosis angle was 38.8° ± 19.7°. Surgical complications occurred in 14 (50%) patients, but none of these patients required revision surgery at the latest follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative HGT notably improved both spinal deformity and pulmonary function in patients with severe EOS. GR treatment after HGT is a safe and effective strategy for these patients.
Publisher
Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group (JNSPG)
Reference29 articles.
1. Treatment strategies for early-onset scoliosis;Helenius IJ,2018
2. Early onset scoliosis with intraspinal anomalies: management with growing rod;Jayaswal A,2016
3. Analysis of clinical results and complications of growing rod technique for congenital scoliosis;Wang W,2013
4. Treatment of early-onset scoliosis: techniques, indications, and complications;Zhang YB,2020
5. How does hyperkyphotic early-onset scoliosis respond to growing rod treatment?;Chen Z,2017