PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCE WITH SUBCUTANEOUS HARRINGTON DISTRACTION WITHOUT SPONDYLODESIS IN SCOLIOSIS

We report on a special method in the treatment of scoliosis using subc utaneous Harrington-distraction without spondylodesis. We operated 14 patients in all who were between 7 and 12 years old, in average 10 2/1 2 years Indication is made if scoliosis is extremely progressive, if C obb's measure is above 50-degrees, after unsuccessful conservative tre atment also including orthesis and physiotherapie, or if patients appe ared to late in our department. In this technique only two incisions t o make are necessary to place the Harrington roots to the cranial and caudal end of the scoliosis curve. The Harrington root can be 'needled ' in subcutaneously. When in times- of further growth the amount of co rrection gets noticably lost the cranial hook could be tightened or th e Harrington root could be changed easily. We need an orthesis (Chenea u or Milwaukee) for aftertreatment until in a final operation with spi nal fusion is made. This method has showed good results although we ha d to cope with a bad prognostic starting position.