Professor Kenneth Cheung, MBBS (UK), MD (HK), FRCS, FHKCOS, FHKAM (Orth)
Growth-friendly techniques for the treatment of early onset scoliosis have greatly evolved since the advent of Harrington rods. Traditional growing rods require periodic open surgical lengthening procedures under general anesthesia and are associated with a relatively high risk of complications. The goal of magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) is to reduce the need for frequent open surgical procedures. Pre-clinical research demonstrated its safety and efficacy and early clinical outcome studies have shown promising results.
Kenneth M.C. Cheung is the Jessie Ho Professor in Spine Surgery and the Head of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, and the President of The Hong Kong College of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Based on initial experience with substantial follow-up, Doctor Cheung found the MCGR to be effective and safe for the treatment of such spinal deformity providing such benefits in a non-invasive, out-patient manner in comparison to traditional methods. It is likely that this is associated with considerable decrease in health-care costs, and improvement in health-care delivery and patient quality of life. Additional, prospective large-scale studies are underway to further validate the initial findings of this study and to assess other parameters of this technology. Nonetheless, it is without question that the development of the MCGR is a tremendous progressive advancement in the treatment of young children with scoliosis and a significant "breakthrough" in medical technology with global applications.
Specifications
- Total Run Time: 11:46 minutes
- Catalog Number: 8031
- VJO Publication Date: January, 2017