← Back Anonymous 4 | Early Onset Scoliosis

This is a 7-year-old girl who was diagnosed with Early Onset Scoliosis when she was 3 years old. She has been followed by Dr. Vitale since she was 4 years old, and her curve was initially 36 degrees. Her main thoracic curve progressed to 85 degrees so it was decided to proceed forward with surgery.

She had MAGEC rods inserted due to the size of her curve and the fact that she had a lot more to grow. These rods controlled the curve and allowed her to continue to grow. MAGEC rods are great since they can be lengthened painlessly and non-invasively at an office visit instead of returning to the operating room twice a year to lengthen the rods under anesthesia.

When she was six, Dr. Vitale revised the MAGEC rods from hooks to screws proximally. At her 6-week post-operative visit, x-rays showed that her curve had decreased to 26 degrees. The appearance of her back and her overall balance and alignment showed minimal abnormality, and she is now learning to swim!