Spine Research at Children's Hospital Colorado
Principal Investigator
Mark Erickson, MD
Professor
Principal Investigator
Sumeet Garg, MD
Associate Professor
Research Professional
Tyler Sullivan, BS
Research Professional
Management of Spinal Deformity
Research in the Spine Program focuses on the management of spinal deformity in children. Research efforts are directed toward evaluating and improving quality and safety outcomes in spine surgery, especially minimizing blood loss, surgical site infections, and other complications. The Spine Program is also dedicated to investigating the effectiveness and quality of life outcomes of non-invasive treatments such as bracing, casting, and observation.
Recent Publications
Quality improvement case series: dermatitis after spine fusion caused by liquid adhesive (2-Octyl cyanoacrylate)
Dermatitis from the use of 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate liquid wound closure adhesives after scoliosis surgery is believed to be allergic reactions to some components of wound closure systems. While uncommon, there have been cases of hypersensitivity reactions (ranging from mild erythema to diffuse full-body allergic dermatitis) in the pediatric spine community. The majority of hypersensitivity reactions respond to a combination of topical medium potency corticosteroids, topical antibacterial agents, emollient ointment, and as-needed oral antihistamines. View full study
Analysis of 5,070 consecutive pedicle screws placed utilizing robotically assisted surgical navigation in 334 patients by experienced pediatric spine deformity surgeons: surgical safety and early perioperative complications in pediatric posterior spinal fusion
This study evaluates the intraoperative and short-term complications associated with robotically assisted pedicle screw placement in pediatric posterior spinal fusion (PSF) from three surgeons at two different institutions. No breach was associated with neuromonitoring changes or neurological sequelae. No spinal cord or vascular injuries occurred. Seventeen postoperative complications occurred in eleven (3.3%) of patients. There were five (1.5%) patients with unplanned return to the operating room. Robotically assisted pedicle screw placement was safely and reliably performed on pediatric spinal deformity by three surgeons across two centers, demonstrating an acceptable safety profile and low incidence of unplanned return to the operating room. View full study
Prospective Studies
Pediatric Spine Study Group Registry (PSSG)”, prospective study.
The primary purpose of this study is to create a multi-institutional registry. The Children’s Spine Foundation and Study Group Registry is a tool designed to assist spine surgeons to efficiently identify and track patients with chest wall and spinal disorders. The registry allows spine surgeons to participate in retrospective and prospective studies for specific spinal disorders.
HARMS Study Group Registry”, prospective study.
The primary purpose of this study is to analyze the long-term outcomes of surgical treatment of idiopathic and neuromuscular scoliosis of all curve patterns treated by either anterior or posterior procedures, including spine fusions and spine tethering. In addition, to analyze the long-term outcomes of non-operative scoliosis.
Spine Procedures Assisted with RoboTics And Navigation (SPARTAN)”, prospective study.
The overall objective of the Spine Procedures Assisted With RoboTics And Navigation (SPARTAN) Registry is to assess in real time the risks and benefits associated with the use of robotics coupled with navigation in pediatric spine deformity surgery requiring pedicle screws. The registry will allow for the critical collection of data on the accuracy and efficiency of this coupled technology. This data is important to surgeons who are considering adopting this technology. A prospective registry of pediatric patients diagnosed with a spine deformity undergoing surgery with robotics and computer-assisted navigation will allow the investigative team to assess the technology’s effect on safety, quality, and value in pediatric spine surgery.
The Spine Program participates in five multicenter, prospective registry studies. The Pediatric Spine Study Group (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02540915) enrolls and tracks patients with early onset spine and chestwall deformities. The Fox Spine Deformity Study investigates patients with severe spine deformity (deformity angle >100° and/or planned vertebral column resection) undergoing surgery.
The Surgeon Performance Registry assesses patient and surgeon variables and practice patterns associated with the surgical treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). We are also participating in the HARMS AIS and HARM CP (Cerebral Palsy) registries. These registries are the first large-scale prospective, multi-center series of spinal fusion outcomes with patients with AIS and CP.
This single-center randomized clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02781324) investigates the efficacy of the ultrasonic bone scalpel compared with the osteotome in reducing blood loss during posterior spinal fusion. The targeted population is patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) undergoing surgery, and the primary outcome variable is blood loss per fusion level. This study was funded by the Scoliosis Research Society New-Investigator Grant.
This multi-center randomized clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01792609) investigates the outcomes of low versus high implant density posterior spine fusion constructs in patients undergoing surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.