ReviewEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2026
Role of temporary internal distraction in correcting severe and rigid spinal deformities: a systematic review.
Review in 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. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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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.
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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.
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSevere and rigid spinal deformities pose significant surgical challenges, with conventional posterior fusion often limited by curve stiffness and risk of neurological injury. Temporary internal distraction (TID) has been introduced as an adjunct to facilitate safer staged correction.
methodsA systematic review of the literature was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting clinical or radiological outcomes of TID in severe spinal deformities were included. Data on study characteristics, patient demographics, surgical techniques, outcomes, and complications were extracted. Methodological quality was assessed using the MINORS scale.
resultsFifteen studies comprising 243 patients were included. The majority were retrospective case series of moderate methodological quality. TID consistently improved curve flexibility and resulted in significant reductions in main thoracic, thoracolumbar/lumbar, and kyphotic angles, with gains maintained at final follow-up. Improvements were also observed in apical vertebral translation, lumbar lordosis, spinal length, and rib hump height. Pulmonary outcomes were infrequently reported, precluding meta-analysis. Complications included transient neuromonitoring changes, rare neurological deficits, pulmonary complications, infections, and implant-related failures, but overall safety was acceptable.
conclusionTID appears to be a promising adjunct for managing severe and rigid spinal deformities, enabling safer staged correction and significant radiological improvement with manageable risks. Retrospective designs and heterogeneous reporting limit current evidence; further prospective studies with standardised functional outcomes are needed to define its long-term role.
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Registered trials
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