Is Growing Rod Retention an Option? Outcomes After Magnetically Controlled Growing Rod “Graduation”

STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective cohort. OBJECTIVE: To compare complications, patient-reported outcomes, and radiographic measures between patients treated for early-onset scoliosis (EOS) with magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) according to whether they had definitive fusion, retention of implants, or implant removal alone. BACKGROUND DATA: For patients with EOS, MCGRs enable noninvasive spinal distraction until skeletal maturity, when most undergo definitive fusion. Because MCGR expansions are more frequent than with traditional growing rods, the incidence of autofusion may differ. The long-term safety and effectiveness of implant retention is unknown. METHODS: We included 240 patients with EOS (mean age at index surgery, 8.8 y) who completed treatment with MCGRs and had ≥2-year follow-up after definitive management. Patients were grouped by definitive management: fusion (n=225), implant retention without fusion (n=12), or implant removal alone (n=3). Demographics, radiographic parameters, Early Onset Scoliosis Questionnaire (EOSQ-24) scores, and complication rates were analyzed. P