MAGEC® Questions
Are you considering the MAGEC system as a treatment for your child's Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS)? Here are some suggested topics to discuss with your doctor, with some helpful information included.
Questions to ask your doctor about MAGEC treatment
How active can my child be once MAGEC rods are implanted?
Suggested activity levels range from surgeon to surgeon and patient to patient. While some surgeons may recommend a return to normal activities, others may caution against high impact activities.
What exactly does the postoperative treatment entail? What else is done during the clinic visit (e.g. X-ray or ultrasound imaging)?
Postoperative treatment protocols vary by clinic and surgeon preference, as each clinic has different protocols and resources available to them.
How often will my child be lengthened?
Children are growing little by little every day, so MAGEC rods are lengthened every so often to keep up with a child’s growth. Lengthening intervals vary by clinic and patient–typical lengthening intervals span anywhere from every 6 weeks to every 3 months and may change depending on your child’s growth.
What is the likelihood my child will have to undergo an unplanned reoperation?
Generally, in growing rod surgeries (not just MAGEC surgeries), there is a risk of implant related complications.1 Implant related failures can include hooks or screws pulling out of place or rod fractures.
The child’s weight, type of deformity, spinal flexibility, degree of mobility, surgical technique, and/or activity level may also be contributing factors to implant complications.
In non-fusion constructs, like MAGEC constructs, the greater the amount of time the rods have been implanted the higher the risk of rod fracture.2
How about planned surgeries? Is there ever a chance my child’s MAGEC rod will have to be exchanged?
It is possible that the MAGEC rod will be maximally lengthened–the smaller version of the rod expands up to 28mm whereas the larger version expands up to 48mm. If the rod reaches its maximum length, and your child still has growth left, you and your surgeon may elect to swap out the rods and continue MAGEC treatment.
Will MAGEC rods fix my child’s scoliosis?
MAGEC rods are used to brace the spine during growth to minimize the progression of scoliosis. While some correction might be achieved in the initial implantation surgery and subsequent distractions, it is most likely a child diagnosed with EOS will need a final fusion at the end of MAGEC treatment to further straighten out the child’s spine.
1. Johari A, Nemade A. Growing spine deformities: Are magnetic rods the final answer? World J Orthop 2017;8(4):295-300. 2. Liang J, Li S, Zhuang Q, et al. Risk factors for predicting complications associated with growing rod surgery for earlyonset scoliosis. Journal of Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery 2015;136:15-9. 3. Wang JC, Yu WD, Sandhu HS, et al. Metal debris from titanium spinal implants. Spine 1999;24(9):899-903. 4. McCarthy RE, Sucato D, Turn JL, et al. Shilla growing rods in a caprine animal model. Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research 2010;468:705-10. 5. Romesburg JW, Wasserman PL, Schoppe, CH. Metallosis and metal-induced synovitis following total knee arthroplasty: Review of radiographic and CT findings. Journal of Radiology Case Reports 2010;4(9):7-17. 6. Kim H-D, Kim K-S, Ki S-C, et al. Electron microprobe analysis and tissue reaction around titanium alloy spinal implants. Asian Spine J 2007;1(1):1-7. 7. Yamaguchi K, Konishi H, Hara S, et al. Biocompatibility studies of titanium-based alloy pedicle screw and rod system: histological aspects. The Spine J 2001;1:260-8. 8. Villaraga ML, Cripton PA, Teti SC, et al. Wear and corrosion in retrieved thoracolumbar posterior internal fixation. Spine 2006;31(21):2454-62.