Magnetic Lengthening Rods Are Nothing Short of "Magic"

Receiving a diagnosis of early onset scoliosis is nothing new for the Moser family. Siblings Madison, 11, and Maxwell, 7, were each 2 years old when their scoliosis was detected, but their paths to healing couldn’t be more different.

That’s because in the four years between their diagnoses, a revolutionary treatment involving magnetic lengthening rods was fine-tuned in Europe. Once approved by the FDA, the treatment was implemented in some children’s hospitals in the US, including Hospital for Special Surgery, where the Moser children were being treated by Roger F. Widmann, MD, Chief of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery.

But let’s back up. To fully appreciate these high-tech rods, it helps to understand why growing rods are so important in the first place. “Rods serve as an internal brace for scoliosis in young children, typically five to 10-years old,” explains Dr. Widmann. “When the scoliosis is too large for an external brace to control the curve, we use expandable rods to provide internal bracing for the spine. This allows the spine and chest to grow while the scoliosis curve is kept under control.” When the growth spurts are finished, the rods are removed and the patient is able to undergo a spinal fusion, which is a more permanent solution.

Traditionally, orthopedic surgeons surgically implant a set of growing rods into a young patient’s spine using hooks or screws. Every six months, to keep up with the child’s growing body, the doctor manually lengthens the rod one centimeter—a procedure that can only be done surgically. So by the time the child is a teenager, and ready for spinal fusion surgery, he or she has already undergone several surgeries.

“It was a very disruptive procedure,” Dr. Widmann says, “because every six months, the child knew they had to have surgery. Coming into the hospital was such a stressful event for them.” In addition to the challenges of returning for multiple surgeries, surgery itself poses the inherent risk of infection, even when the most careful precautions are taken.

This is the route Madison took—and it’s working. She can now climb stairs, run without falling, sleep comfortably and, in general, live her life without discomfort. However, her sweet relief (and straightened spine) have come at a price. According to mom Danielle, her daughter has undergone 16 procedures so far.  Her final spinal fusion, scheduled for this summer, will require two surgeries.

When the Mosers later learned Maxwell had the same type of scoliosis, they were prepared for a similar treatment plan. In fact, he had traditional growing rods for two years, after braces and castings didn’t work. But Dr. Widmann felt they weren’t effectively straightening out the boy’s 105-degree curvature.

Luckily for Maxwell, around that time the FDA had approved the magnetic growing rods, also called MAGEC rods (pronounced “magic”). Like their traditional counterparts, these high-tech rods are implanted surgically. What sets them apart is the lengthening process: It’s done in the doctor’s office instead of the operating room, takes just a few minutes to complete, is completely painless, and requires no recovery time. An electromagnet roughly the size of a loaf of bread is placed on the outside of the child’s back, where the MAGEC rods are located. The force activates a motor housed within each rod, which allows doctors to extend it to the appropriate length. “We document with an ultrasound that we were able to get the desired length, and once a year we’ll obtain an X-ray to confirm,” Dr. Widmann says.

On average, a young scoliosis patient keeps the rods for a handful of years before he or she stops growing. Maxwell was 5 when he first received his MAGEC rods, and, depending on his growth spurts, he may receive a replacement set when he turns 8. Barring any breaks or worn-down parts, those should carry him through until his spinal fusion.

Though the technology was fairly new, Danielle says Maxwell and the rest of the family were on board immediately because they trusted Dr. Widmann and the team at HSS. “My kids love Dr. Widmann,” she says. “They’re not afraid of him; they’re crazy about him. He is so good with them.”

Of course, it also helped that the procedure was quick and painless. Initially, Maxwell was understandably nervous about anyone touching his back. “But now,” Danielle, says, “he’s an expert.” Every three months, Maxwell is in and out of the office—it only takes about five minutes to do the lengthening.

“His balance is never going to be ‘normal,’ and his center of gravity will always be a little off because he’ll never be without a curve. But he’s definitely a million times better than where he was,” she says. “Look, no one wants their child to go through surgery or pain, but kids are extremely resilient. It’s amazing what they can get through. We’re comforted knowing Maxwell is having an easier time than Madison and, thankfully, will have fewer surgeries. I’m grateful to HSS and would recommend them to any parent.”

Read more about the Amazing Progress. Superior Outcomes. at HSS.