ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) is unfortunately a commonly encountered complication in the surgical treatment of children with Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS). There is documented variation in the treatment of this patient population. Previous work building consensus for the approach to high risk patients (eg, neuromuscular etiology) has been promising. The goal of the current study is to apply similar principles to develop consensus-based guidelines for the treatment of patients with EOS. METHODS: A focus group from 2 multicenter pediatric spine deformity study groups developed a list of statements to be distributed to a larger group of EOS experts. Using the Delphi process, participants were presented with a systematic review of the literature as well as a review of current practices in growth friendly surgery. The first round was conducted using an electronic survey. Results of this survey were then discussed face-to-face and the statements were further refined. A final round was conducted using the Audience Response System, allowing participants to vote for each statement (strongly agree or agree). Agreement >80% or disagreement <20% was considered consensus. RESULTS: A total of 29 of 57 statements reached consensus. Negative statements (statements of disagreement) were excluded, so the final consensus guidelines included 22 statements. The number of statements from the previously published Best Practice Guidelines (BPG) approved for insertion and lengthening growth friendly procedures were 12 of 14 and 11 of 14, respectively. The high risk BPG therefore does not cover all of the issues specific to the EOS population, and explains why 22 statements reached consensus in the current guideline. Upon completion of the surveys, 100% of the participants agreed to support its publication. CONCLUSIONS: Using the Delphi process several "best practices" were developed for growth friendly surgical treatment of EOS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V.
Subject(s)
Practice Guidelines as Topic , Scoliosis/surgery , Surgical Wound Infection/prevention & control , Child , Consensus , Delphi Technique , Humans , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, multicenter. OBJECTIVES: To compare surgical and radiographic outcomes of early-onset scoliosis (EOS) patients who had stopped lengthening for ≥2 years without additional surgery to those who had posterior spinal fusion (PSF) at the end of lengthening. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Because of the risk of significant complications with PSF in patients with EOS, "watchful waiting" at the end of lengthening has been suggested as a viable alternative. METHODS: Retrospective review of the Children's Spine Study Group (CSSG) database identified all patients with the diagnosis of EOS who had distraction-based treatment, who were ≥2 years from their last distraction, and who had complete records. Radiographic measures were obtained by a single unbiased trained observer. Treatment outcomes including curve correction, height and length gain, as well as complications were recorded. RESULTS: The 37 patients (21 females and 16 males) had a mean age of 7.2 years; 12 were in the observation (OBS) and 25 in the PSF group. The PSF group had a slightly greater coronal Cobb angle and maximal kyphosis at the end of distraction. Although there was some correction of the coronal Cobb angle and maximal kyphosis following PSF, the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant at final follow-up. At final follow-up, the OBS group obtained 88% of T1-T12 height and 90% of T1-L1 length of that obtained by the PSF group. Twenty-six complications occurred in 15 patients, all in the PSF group. CONCLUSIONS: Observation may be a viable alternative to PSF after distraction-based treatment in a subset of patients with EOS. PSF was found to provide no significant curve correction or gains in spine height and length compared to observation and carries a significant risk of complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic.
