So growth rods apparently are:
"almost guaranteed to cause spontaneous fusion"
and
"It (spontaneous fusion) almost always occurs with traditional growing rods."
It sounds like they may even have a lower rate of pseudoarthrosis that typical posterior fusion. If so, and if the area to be fused can be targeted, I wonder why growth rods aren't used to fuse spines instead of posterior (and anterior for that matter) fusion?
I realize they would have to go back to the old protocol of attaching them to the top and bottom of the spine to accomplish the fusion. It seems like it might be an easier operation to tolerate but I'm guessing on that.
"almost guaranteed to cause spontaneous fusion"
and
"It (spontaneous fusion) almost always occurs with traditional growing rods."
It sounds like they may even have a lower rate of pseudoarthrosis that typical posterior fusion. If so, and if the area to be fused can be targeted, I wonder why growth rods aren't used to fuse spines instead of posterior (and anterior for that matter) fusion?
I realize they would have to go back to the old protocol of attaching them to the top and bottom of the spine to accomplish the fusion. It seems like it might be an easier operation to tolerate but I'm guessing on that.
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