Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40383855›Full record

ArticleSpine deformity2025

The value of another centimeter: assessing the impact of magnetically controlled growing rod replacement in thoracic height gain and scoliosis correction.

Yusuke Hori, David Fralinger, Brett Shannon, Ali Asma, Norihiro Isogai, Luiz Carlos Almeida da Silva, Kacey L McGinnes, Kenneth J Rogers, W G Stuart Mackenzie, Peter G Gabos and 2 more

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Article in Spine deformity, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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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

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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

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Yusuke HoriNemours Children Health, Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
David FralingerNemours Children Health, Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
Brett ShannonNemours Children Health, Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
Ali AsmaNemours Children Health, Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
Norihiro IsogaiNemours Children Health, Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
Luiz Carlos Almeida da SilvaNemours Children Health, Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
Kacey L McGinnesNemours Children Health, Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
Kenneth J RogersNemours Children Health, Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
W G Stuart MackenzieNemours Children Health, Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
Peter G GabosNemours Children Health, Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
William G MackenzieNemours Children Health, Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
Suken A ShahNemours Children Health, Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA. suken.shah@nemours.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4885-0138

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeMagnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) enable scoliosis correction and height gain with minimum surgeries; however, the risk of extension failure increases with repeated lengthening, potentially necessitating rod replacement. This study aimed to investigate the benefits of replacing MCGR for additional lengthening before definitive fusion compared with direct transition to fusion without replacement.

methodsThis single-center retrospective study included patients with early-onset scoliosis who were treated with MCGR and underwent definitive fusion. Achieved rod length, T1-T12 height gain, and major curve correction were compared between patients with and without MCGR replacement. Additionally, achieved length of first and second rods was compared among patients who underwent MCGR replacement.

resultsOf 39 patients (56% female) meeting inclusion criteria, 13 underwent MCGR replacement. Patients who had replacement achieved greater total lengthening (37 vs. 20 mm, P < 0.001) over a longer period (6.2 vs. 3.5 years, P < 0.001). The replacement group also showed higher T1-T12 height gain after definitive fusion than the control group (61 vs. 47 mm, P = 0.011), although most height gains occurred during the index surgery. In contrast, the major curve correction rate was significantly lower in the replacement group (51% vs. 65%, P = 0.033). The initial MCGR achieved more lengthening than the secondary in 11/13 replacement patients.

conclusionsMCGR replacement leads to additional lengthening and T1-T12 height gain but is associated with diminished scoliosis correction. These findings question the value of the modest 14-mm increase in thoracic height from MCGR replacement considering the decreased deformity correction and the additional time and cost. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective Cohort, Level III.

Indexed as

ScoliosisSpinal FusionThoracic VertebraeBody HeightChildFemaleHumansMaleRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeChildrenEarly-onset scoliosisGrowth-friendly implantsMagnetically controlled growing rods

Identifiers

PMID40383855

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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.