When an 8-year-old boy was diagnosed with early-onset scoliosis (EOS) caused by a spinal cord tumor, his treatment options were limited. Controlling his spinal deformity while ensuring continued growth and maintaining tumor surveillance presented a significant challenge. With a 70-degree spinal curvature, further progression posed serious risks to his heart and lung development, as well as to the growth of his spine.
After bracing and casting failed to adequately control the deformity, Duke pediatric spine surgeon Anthony A. Catanzano Jr., MD, assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and director of clinical research for the Pediatric Orthopaedic Division, recognized that a different approach was necessary.
Without treatment, EOS can lead to severe cardiopulmonary complications. At younger ages, it’s essential to use growth-preserving implants rather than resorting to spinal fusion, which limits future growth and development. “Growing rods represented a major innovation in the treatment of EOS,” Dr. Catanzano explains. “They enable us to correct the deformity while allowing the child to grow and develop during this critical period.”