Preclinical Assessment of Novel Radiopaque UHMWPE Sublaminar Wires in a Growth-Guidance System for Early Onset Scoliosis Correction

Surgical treatment of scoliosis, a malformation of the vertebral column in children younger than 10 years, is extremely challenging and often requires multiple operations. Reoperations are necessary to enable the vertebral column and chest to grow, allowing the lungs to further develop as well. In this dissertation, a growth-guidance system has been developed, which allows growth in length of the vertebral column in this patient group to remain possible without the patients having to undergo multiple operations. Within this growth-guidance system, ultra-strong synthetic wires can slide along the rod they are fixed to. In this way, sliding fixation points are created, allowing the curve to be corrected and growth to be maintained. Mechanical and biological analysis has shown that the new synthetic wire, which is visible on X-rays, can be used safely for this particular application. An animal study has shown that growth in length of the vertebral column is not limited by insertion of this growth-guidance system.