[Source:  Medical X-Press]

A new Michigan Medicine study finds that some children with cerebral palsy and scoliosis do not require pelvic fixation when undergoing growing rod treatment, potentially avoiding several complications.

Using data from around 20 health systems, researchers analyzed nearly 100 pediatric patients with cerebral palsy and scoliosis treated with growth-friendly implants, in which expandable rods are inserted into the back to help control the spinal curvature while still allowing the spine to grow. They found that for children with a pelvic tilt and lower lumbar spine tilt of fewer than 10 degrees, the pelvis did not need to be included when inserting growing rods. The results are published in Spine Deformity.

“Inserting screws into the pelvis to anchor the growing rods is not benign; screws in that area tend to be more prominent,” said G. Ying Li, M.D., lead author of the paper and pediatric orthopedic surgeon at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

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