DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDIC

A 10-year-old girl presented with a history of painful scoliosis. Imaging performed, including computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), demonstrated a lesion with radiological features consistent with an osteoid osteoma (OO) of the 6th thoracic vertebra. The patient was treated conservatively with non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Over eight months of clinical and radiological surveillance, she became entirely asymptomatic and demonstrated complete resolution of the scoliotic curve. The CT and MRI features of the osteoid osteoma during the period of surveillance are presented and are correlated with the corresponding clinical features.

L umbar stenosis is a common condition referred to spine surgeons for evaluation, and the literature supports the effectiveness of lumbar decompres-sion as a treatment for symptomatic lumbar stenosis. 1,3,6,7 As the population ages, surgeons will be faced with the treatment of increasingly elderly patients who may be prone to higher rates of complications. An understanding of the potential likelihood of complication is therefore essential in both decision making and preoperative patient counseling.

Introduction: Traditional growing rod (TGR) surgery is a treatment technique commonly used for progressive early-onset scoliosis. Studies have shown that repeated TGR lengthenings can significantly increase the risk of complications. Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) are currently available outside of the United States and early results have been promising. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of MCGR versus TGR for the treatment of early-onset scoliosis. Methods: Magnetically controlled growing rod patients were selected based on the following criteria: aged less than 10 years, major curve greater than 30 , thoracic height less than 22 cm, no previous spine surgery, and minimum 2-year follow-up. A total of 17 MCGR patients met the inclusion criteria, 12 of whom had complete data available for analysis. Each MCGR patient was matched with a TGR patient by etiology, gender, single versus dual rods, preoperative age, and preoperative major curve. Results: Magnetically controlled growing rod patients had a mean age of 6.8 years and mean follow-up of 2.5 years. Mean follow-up was greater for TGR patients by 1.6 years. Major curve correction was similar between MCGR and TGR patients throughout treatment. The MCGR patients experienced an average of 8.1 mm/year increase in T1eS1 during the lengthening period, compared with 9.7 mm/year for TGR patients (p 5 .73). There was a mean increase in T1eT12 of 1.5 mm/year for MCGR patients and 2.3 mm/year for TGR patients (p 5 .83). The TGR patients had 73 open surgeries, 56 of which were lengthenings. The MCGR patients had 16 open surgeries and 137 noninvasive lengthenings. Three TGR patients underwent 5 unplanned revision surgeries whereas 3 MCGR patients underwent 4 unplanned revisions. Conclusions: Major curve correction was similar between MCGR and TGR patients throughout treatment. Annual T1eS1 and T1e12 growth was also similar between groups. The MCGR patients had 57 fewer surgical procedures than TGR patients. Incidence of unplanned surgical revisions as a result of complications was similar between groups.

A 10-year-old girl presented with a history of painful scoliosis. Imaging performed, including computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), demonstrated a lesion with radiological features consistent with an osteoid osteoma (OO) of the 6th thoracic vertebra. The patient was treated conservatively with non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Over eight months of clinical and radiological surveillance, she became entirely asymptomatic and demonstrated complete resolution of the scoliotic curve. The CT and MRI features of the osteoid osteoma during the period of surveillance are presented and are correlated with the corresponding clinical features.

Background: To present the first known reported case of late onset idiopathic scoliosis with concomitant neural anomalies, treated with sequential distraction using magnetic growth rod, had significant improvement in both cranio-cervical and intraspinal anomaly. Methods: A caucasian, growing female child (at the age of ten) presented with moderately progressive late onset right thoracic scoliosis. She was found to have Chiari type I malformation and a cervicothoracic syrinx on routine pre-operative MRI scanning. We treated this child by inserting magnetic growing rod (MGR) system. After 48 months of follow up with serial distractions, the metalwork (MGR) was removed due to aseptic wound breakdown and granuloma formation. Subsequently due to the progression of deformity, a definitive posterior instrumented spinal fusion was done. A repeat MRI Scan of the Spine was done prior to this definitive procedure to assess for any residual neural anomalies. Results: The Chiari type I malformation appeared to have completely resolved, with no cerebellar tonsillar herniation seen, and a significant improvement in the size of the cervicothoracic syringomyelia effectively downgrading it to a prominent central canal. Conclusions: This is a unique case of progressive late onset idiopathic scoliosis with associated Chiari malformation and syringomyelia, showing an improvement in these neural anomalies after gradual and protracted distractive lengthening of the spine with MGR.