One of the majör problems in treatment of scoliosis is the difficult curves of children that require immediate at-tention. Subcutaneous rod instrumentation (SCR) has been suggested for such curves that could not be con-trolled with conservative methods.

Sixteen patients (7 giriş and 9 boys) treated with SCR instrumentation were evaluated retrospectively. The av-erage age at time of surgery was 7 years. Ten patients had idiopathic scoliosis, two had neuromuscular and the rest vjere patients that had complex syndromes associated with scoliosis. The curves had an average Cobb angle of 55 degrees. The patients were instrumented with subcutaneously placed rods vvithout fusion as described by Moe. The surgical procedure was performed in 7 patients after a trial of conservative treatment and in 9 patients after the first evaluation because of their significant deformity. The instruments that were used included 11 Har-rington rods, 7 Isola rods and 1 TSRH rod. Four patients had a posterior fusion as a definitive surgery after an average of 55 months follow-up. The total number of operations per patient vvas 4. At last follow up (average 70 months) the average Cobb angle vvas 50 degrees. Fourteen compliactions occurred in 8 patients (3 rod breakag-es, 2 rod dislocations, 3 infections, 4 hook dislocations, 2 pressure sores due to the rods).

Conclusion:

İn small children with scoliosis that have a significant grovvth potential and risk for progression, SCR instrumentation vvithout fusion is an effective alternative in management.

Keywords: Subcutaneous rod, Scoliosis, Surgical treatment