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Rod fracture and lengthening intervals in traditional growing rods: is there a relationship?

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Abstract

Purpose

Is there any relationship between lengthening intervals and rod fracture in traditional growing rod (TGR) surgery?

Methods

A multicenter EOS database was queried for patients who had: (1) dual growing rods for EOS; (2) minimum 2-year follow-up; (3) a minimum of 2 lengthenings; and (4) revision surgery due to rod fracture. Of 138 patients who met the criteria: 56 patients experienced at least one-rod fracture (RF group) and 82 patients had no rod fractures (NRF group). In addition to each patient’s lengthening intervals, demographics, construct details, and radiographic parameters were compared.

Results

RF and NRF patients had a mean pre-op age of 5.7 years (range 1.3–10.7) and 7.3 years (range 1.6–12.8), respectively (p < 0.001). There was no significant association between etiologies and rod fracture or between BMI and rod fracture (p = 0.979). There was no significant difference between lengthening intervals between the RF and NRF groups (p > 0.05). RF and NRF patients had statistically similar mean pre-op major curve size and max kyphosis (p = 0.279; p = 0.619, respectively). Stainless steel rods fractured more frequently compared with Titanium rods (SS 49.2 % vs. Ti 38 %; p = 0.004). Rod fracture occurred more in rods smaller than 4 mm (p = 0.011).

Conclusions

Lengthening intervals were not statistically different in RF and NRF groups and there was no association between lengthening interval and rod fracture in TGR cases. It was shown that patients who had rod fracture were younger and were more likely to have SS rods with smaller than 4 mm diameter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders, San Diego, CA, USA

    Pooria Hosseini, Jeff B. Pawelek, Stacie Nguyen & Behrooz A. Akbarnia

  2. Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH, USA

    George H. Thompson

  3. Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Suken A. Shah

  4. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    John M. Flynn

  5. Texas Children’s Hospital, 6701 Fannin Street, CC660, Houston, TX, USA

    John P. Dormans

  6. Growing Spine Foundation, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Growing Spine Study Group

  7. San Diego Spine Foundation, 6190 Cornerstone Ct; Suite 212, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA

    Behrooz A. Akbarnia

Authors
  1. Pooria Hosseini
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  2. Jeff B. Pawelek
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  3. Stacie Nguyen
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  4. George H. Thompson
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  5. Suken A. Shah
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  6. John M. Flynn
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  7. John P. Dormans
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  8. Behrooz A. Akbarnia
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  9. Growing Spine Study Group
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Behrooz A. Akbarnia.

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Source of funding

This study was supported by a research grant from the Growing Spine Foundation.

Conflict of interests

Conflict of interests (COI) is explained in the coauthors’ COI electronic forms.

IRB

This study was Institutional Review Board approved at each participating institution prior to initiation.

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Hosseini, P., Pawelek, J.B., Nguyen, S. et al. Rod fracture and lengthening intervals in traditional growing rods: is there a relationship?. Eur Spine J 26, 1690–1695 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4786-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4786-8

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