Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40437325›Full record

Observational studySpine deformity2025

Management of early-onset scoliosis: modern Luque trolley technique led to fewer reoperations within 3 years than other growth-friendly techniques, a prospective cohort study with matched historical controls.

Romain Dayer, Michael Grevitt, Lee Breakwell, WaiWeng Yoon, Maio Chen, Tiara Ratz, Tina Szocik, Yaner Y Zhu, Pediatric Spine Study Group (PSSG), Jean Ouellet

Registry-linked trialAbstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Spine deformity, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT01672749 (Evaluation of a Growth Guiding Construct vs. Standard Dual Growing Rods and VEPTR for the Treatment of Early Onset Scoliosis Patients), which is not on this 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.

NCT01672749 unknown statusnot on this map

Evaluation of a Growth Guiding Construct vs. Standard Dual Growing Rods and VEPTR for the Treatment of Early Onset Scoliosis Patients: A Prospective Multi-center Cohort Study With a Matched Historical Control

TypeobservationalSponsorAO Innovation Translation CenterRan2015 to 2025Enrolled18ConditionsEarly Onset ScoliosisArmsGrowth guiding construct using TROLLEY system, Spine based dual growing rod or rib based VEPTR
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
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

10 authors.

Romain DayerPediatric Orthopaedics Unit, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Michael GrevittCentre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, Queens Medical Centre Campus, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
Lee BreakwellSheffield Children's Hospital, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK.
WaiWeng YoonCentre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, Queens Medical Centre Campus, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
Maio ChenAO Innovation Translation Center, Clinical Operations, AO Foundation, Davos, Switzerland.
Tiara RatzAO Innovation Translation Center, Clinical Operations, AO Foundation, Davos, Switzerland.
Tina SzocikPediatric Spine Foundation, Valley Forge, PA, USA.
Yaner Y ZhuAO Innovation Translation Center, Medical Scientific Affairs, AO Foundation, Davos, Switzerland.
Pediatric Spine Study Group (PSSG)
Jean OuelletDepartment of Paediatric Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. jaouellet@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeManagement of early-onset scoliosis (EOS) remains challenging with high reoperation rates. The modern Luque trolley technique (MLT) was developed to reduce open lengthening and complications. This study aimed to compare the reoperation rates between the MLT and other growth-friendly surgical techniques.

methodsProspective EOS patients were recruited and treated with MLT; matched historical controls were selected from the Pediatric Spine Study Group (PSSG) database. The primary objective was to test if within 3 years of surgery MLT patients would have fewer reoperations. Secondary outcomes were growth, curve correction, and quality of life using the 24-item early-onset scoliosis questionnaire (EOSQ-24). Safety analysis was performed for the MLT patients.

resultsMLT (N = 18) and control patients (N = 43) had similar baseline age, body measurements, etiology, Cobb angle, and spinal length. Within 3 years of surgery, 1/18 MLT patients required a reoperation compared with 30/43 controls, conditional Poisson regression rate ratio = 0.02 (95% CI 0; 0.12) (P < 0.001). The median time to first reoperation was MLT, 5.4 years and control, 0.8 years. The MLT achieved the same curve correction as the controls at 3 years. The total spinal growth (T1-S1) was similar between the groups, although the thoracic spinal growth (T1-T12) was less in the MLT group. No difference was observed in standing heights and EOSQ-24 scores. Within 3 years, 2 MLT patients had recurrence of deformity (risk = 11.1%, 95% CI 1.4; 34.7) and 1 had implant loosening (risk = 5.6%, 95% CI 0.1; 27.3).

conclusionMLT patients had fewer reoperations within 3 years than control patients and a low risk of implant failure. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level II. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01672749. Date of registration: 2012-08-24.

Indexed as

ReoperationScoliosisSpinal FusionAge of OnsetCase-Control StudiesChildFemaleHumansMaleProspective StudiesQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeEarly-onset scoliosisGrowing rodsImplant failureModern Luque techniquePediatric spinal deformity

Identifiers

PMID40437325
PMCPMC12401759

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Registered trials

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.