The study authors examined 37 patients with early onset scoliosis who received either magnetic-controlled growth rods or the conventional growing rod. There were 10 patients who had magnetic-controlled growing rods and 27 who had the conventional growing rods.
Here are five key notes:
1. There were 29 patients, 76 percent, who reported at least one complication.
2. The magnetic-controlled growing rod patients reported a higher complication rate than the control group—0.32 complications per year per patient compared with 15 complications per year per patient.
3. The magnetic-controlled growing rod was associated with lower deep infection risk and fewer superficial infections.
4. There was a higher risk of metalwork problems in the magnetic-controlled growing rod group as well as more unplanned returns to the theatre.
5. The researchers concluded that while there was a lower rate of deep and superficial infections among the magnetic-controlled growing rod group, the patients in that group didn’t completely avoid repeated invasive surgical procedures.
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