BACKGROUNDInitial results for the use of single and dual growing rod techniques in the treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS) has been seldom documented. The aim of this research was to investigate the initial efficacy of single and dual growing rods in treatment of EOS.

METHODSA retrospective study of 25 early onset scoliosis cases treated with growing rod technique between November 2002 and May 2010 was performed, including six cases in the single growing rod group and 19 cases in the dual growing rod group. Operation time, intra-operative bleeding, correction rate, changes in C7-S1 distance, and incidence of complications of the first operation were compared for the two techniques.

RESULTSThe average post-operative follow-up duration was 31.9 months. There was no statistical difference observed between operation time, intra-operative bleeding, and complication incidence between the single and dual growing rod groups. In addition, no statistical difference was observed in the pre-operative coronal Cobb's angle (P > 0.05), or in the pre-operative sagittal Cobb's angle between both groups (P > 0.05). The correction rate of the dual growing rod group was significantly superior to that of the single growing rod group in the coronal plane (P < 0.01), but not in the sagittal plane (P > 0.05). The C7-S1 distance in the dual growing rod group was significantly larger than that in the single growing rod group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe growing rod technique is an effective option for surgical treatment of EOS. The dual growing rod technique shows relative superiority in the correction outcome as compared to the single growing rod technique.