To investigate the clinical efficacy of dual growing rods (DGR) in the treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS), and to evaluate the safety of its clinical application.

From March 2015 to August 2021, a total of 20 EOS patients with onset age within 10 years old who were treated with dual growth rod technique were retrospectively analyzed, including 8 males and 12 females. The mean age of patients at first surgery was 9.0±1.4 years (range, 6.3-10.8 years); the preoperative Cobb angle was 59.0°±16.8° (range, 41.2°-103°). The Cobb angle, thoracic kyphosis angle, lumbar lordosis angle, T₁-T₁2 height, T₁-S₁ height, coronal plane imbalance, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), apical vertebral translation (AVT) and Campbell's space available for lung ratio (SAL) were recorded and analyzed while surgery-related complications were also recorded.

The average follow-up time of 20 patients was 28.07±14.30 months. The average initial hospital stay was 20.56±8.28 days, the average initial operation time was 211.70±39.80 min, the average blood loss in the initial operation was 255.00±149.50 ml, and the average surgical distraction was 1.60±0.51 times per person. The Cobb angle of the main curve in the coronal plane decreased from 59.00°±16.80° before operation to 33.40°±11.80° after the initial operation, which was 29.67°±11.67° at 1 year and 29.40°±11.30° at the last follow-up. Preoperative thoracic kyphosis angle was 41.39°±6.06°, decreased to 31.72°±3.56° after the initial operation, was 30.32°±4.26° at 1-year and 30.24°±4.23° at the last follow-up; preoperative lumbar lordosis angle was 45.90°±8.03°, decreased to 42.65°±9.05° after initial operation, 41.55°±7.84° at 1-year follow-up, and 41.53°±8.21° at the last follow-up; preoperative T₁-S₁ height was 31.76±4.42 cm, initial after operation, it increased to 34.64±3.96 cm, 36.73±3.87 cm at 1 year, and 37.28±4.36 cm at the last follow-up; preoperative T₁-T₁₂ height was 17.38±2.76 cm. increased to 19.39±2.86 cm after the initial operation, 21.77±2.71 cm at 1 year, and 21.91±2.74 cm at the last follow-up; Preoperative coronal balance was 1.52±0.73 cm, and decreased to 0.87±0.38 cm after the initial operation, 0.81±0.38 cm at 1 year, and 0.77±0.37 cm at the last follow-up; preoperative sagittal balance was 1.94±0.78 cm, and 1.42±0.56 cm after operation, 1.28±0.55 cm at 1 year, and 1.26±0.57 cm at the last follow-up; The preoperative apical vertebra offset was 4.33±1.85 cm, and 2.16±1.47 cm after the initial operation, 1.63±1.17 cm at 1 year, and 1.61±1.23 cm at the last follow-up; SAL increased from preoperative 0.88±0.05 to 0.94±0.03 postoperatively, and 0.96±0.01 at 1-year follow-up, and 0.97±0.01 at the last follow-up. The differences between the above indicators before and after surgery were statistically significant (P<0.05); there was a statistically significant difference in SAL between the 1-year follow-up and the last follow-up (t=3.80, P=0.001), and other indicators were not statistically significant. Among the 20 cases, there were 5 cases of postoperative complications, including 2 cases of pedicle screw loosening and displacement, 2 cases of transverse process hook decoupling, and 1 case of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK). The complication rate was 25% (5/20), all of them underwent revision treatment, and the prognosis was good after timely treatment.

The dual growth bar technique can effectively control the progression of EOS deformity, preserve the longitudinal growth potential of the spine, and buy time for the development of the thorax in children, which has high safety.

eScoliosis; Spinal fusion; Growth and development; Treatment outcome