Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39377901›Full record

ArticleSpine deformity2025

Matched comparison of non-fusion surgeries for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: posterior dynamic distraction device and vertebral body tethering.

Julia Todderud, A Noelle Larson, Geoffrey Haft, Ron El-Hawary, Nigel Price, John T Anderson, Ryan Fitzgerald, Gilbert Chan, Baron Lonner, Michael Albert and 2 more

Abstract readComparative StudyMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Spine deformity, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Clinical outcomes and complications of the posterior dynamic distraction device in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Review
  2. Guided posterior vertebral growth modulation. A novel fusionless technique for correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in immature patients with removal of the implants at maturity.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Julia TodderudMayo Clinic Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
A Noelle LarsonMayo Clinic Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. larson.noelle@mayo.edu.ORCID 0000-0001-6542-6975
Geoffrey HaftSanford Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
Ron El-HawaryDepartment of Surgery, IWK Health, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Nigel PriceDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
John T AndersonDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Children's Mercy, Kansas City, MO, USA.
Ryan FitzgeraldChildren's Orthopedic and Scoliosis Surgery Associates, LLP, Tampa, FL, USA.
Gilbert ChanDepartment of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Baron LonnerDepartment of Orthopedics, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
Michael AlbertDivision of Pediatric Orthopedics, Dayton Children's Hospital, Dayton, OH, USA.
Daniel HoernschemeyerDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri Health Care, Columbia, MO, USA.
Todd A MilbrandtMayo Clinic Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTwo non-fusion devices for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) received HDE approval for clinical use in 2019: posterior dynamic distraction device (PDDD) and vertebral body tethering system (VBT). Although indications are similar, there is no comparative study of these devices. We hypothesize that curve correction will be comparable, but PDDD will have better perioperative metrics.

methodsAIS PDDD patients were prospectively enrolled in this matched multicenter study. Inclusion criteria were Lenke 1 or 5 curves, preoperative curves 35°-60°, correction to ≤30° on bending radiographs, and kyphosis <55°. Patients were matched by age, sex, Risser, curve type and curve magnitude to a single-center cohort of VBT patients. Results were compared at 2 years.

results20 PDDD patients were matched to 20 VBT patients. Blood loss was higher in the VBT cohort (88 vs. 36 ml, p < 0.001). Operative time and postoperative length of stay were longer in the VBT cohort, 177 vs. 115 min (p < 0.001) (2.9 vs. 1.2 days, p < 0.001). Postoperative curve measurement and correction at 6 months were better in the PDDD cohort (15° vs. 24°, p < 0.001; 68% vs. 50%, p < 0.001). At 1-year, PDDD patients had improved Cobb angles (14° vs. 21°, p = 0.001). At 2 years, a correction was improved in the PDDD cohort, with a curve measurement of 17° for PDDD and 22° for VBT (p = 0.043). At the latest follow-up, 3 PDDD patients and 1 VBT patient underwent revision surgery.

conclusionEarly results show PDDD demonstrates better index correction, reduced operative time, less blood loss, and shorter length of stay but higher rates of revision compared to a matched cohort of VBT patients at two-year follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective cohort matched comparative study.

Indexed as

ScoliosisVertebral BodyAdolescentBlood Loss, SurgicalChildFemaleHumansLength of StayMaleOperative TimeProspective StudiesSpinal FusionTreatment OutcomeAdolescent idiopathic scoliosisNon-fusionPosterior dynamic distractionVertebral body tether

Identifiers

PMID39377901

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.