Minimum 5-Year Results of Elongation Derotation Flexion Casting for Early Onset Scoliosis: The Story Is Not Over Until Skeletal Maturity.

BACKGROUND

Early conservative treatment for patients with idiopathic infantile scoliosis (IIS) with elongation derotation flexion (EDF) casting and subsequent serial bracing has become widely utilized. However, the long-term outcomes of patients treated with EDF casting are limited.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients who had undergone serial elongation derotation flexion casting and subsequent bracing for scoliosis presenting at a single large tertiary center. All patients were followed for a minimum of 5 years or until surgical intervention.

RESULTS

Our study included 21 patients diagnosed with IIS and treated with EDF casting. At a mean 7-year follow-up, 13 of the 21 patients were considered successfully treated with a mean final major coronal curvature of 9 degrees compared to a pretreatment coronal curve of 36 degrees. These patients, on average, began casting at 1.3 years old and spent 1 year in a cast. Patients that did not have substantial improvement began casting at mean 4 years old and remained in a cast for 0.8 years. Three patients initially had substantial improvement with the correction to <20 degrees at a mean age of 7; however, their curves worsened in adolescence with poor brace compliance. All 3 patients will require surgical intervention. Of the patients not successfully treated with casting, 7 required surgery at a mean 8.2 years of age, 4.3 years after initiation of casting. A significant predictor of treatment failure was older age of cast initiation ( P <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

EDF casting can be an effective cure for IIS patients if initiated at a young age with 15 of 21 patients successfully treated (76%). However, 3 patients had a recurrence in adolescence resulting in an overall success rate of only 62%. Casting should be initiated early to maximize the likelihood of treatment success and periodic monitoring should be continued through skeletal maturity as recurrence during adolescence can occur.