VEPTR Implantation to Treat Children With Early Onset Scoliosis Without Rib Abnormalities

Primary Objective: To evaluate the use of unilateral or bilateral VEPTR devices, with or without expansion thoracoplasty, for preventing further progression of the Cobb angle, allowing for spinal growth and improving pulmonary function in the treatment of children with progressive scoliosis without rib abnormalities.

Number of Patients Planned: A total of 250 patients requiring treatment with the VEPTR device and meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria will be enrolled in the study. All patients enrolled in this study will receive the VEPTR device.

Duration of Follow-up: Patients will be clinically followed post-surgery throughout the course of the patient's treatment. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled at 1, 6, and 12 months post-surgery and every year thereafter until 5 years after the index procedure, then every 2 years until the final planned procedure, or the completion or spinal growth (typically about 2 years after menarche in girls, or the equivalent in boys), whichever occurs first. Other patient visits may occur as deemed necessary.

General Design and Methodology: This is a prospective, multi-center, clinical study to evaluate the use of VEPTR devices for preventing further progression of the Cobb angle, a measure of the curvature of the spine, determined from measurements made on radiographs, allowing for spinal growth and improving pulmonary function in the treatment of children with progressive scoliosis without rib abnormalities. Unilateral vs. Bilateral, and use of an opening wedge thoracostomy, are at the discretion of the surgeon. The treatment would be used regardless of the study, therefore it is routine care. The primary study hypothesis is that, in regard to key clinical and radiographic outcomes, the success rate of the VEPTR device is at least 90%. A secondary study hypothesis is that in regards to key pulmonary outcomes (improvement in pulmonary function tests and increase in lung volume as measured by CT scans), the success rate of the VEPTR device is at least 90% (see Primary Study Endpoints below). Details of the patient outcomes and the study hypothesis are given below. With correction for 10% attrition, 250 patients split between the participating institutions will be enrolled.

Primary Study Endpoints: The primary endpoint will be based on the findings up to and including the last scheduled patient follow-up visit. An individual patient's treatment will be considered successful only if each of the following criteria are met:

* The patient's Cobb angle at the final surgery is less than or equal to the patient's pre-operative Cobb angle and
* The patient's trunk height or spinal length at final surgery is greater than or equal to the patient's immediate post-operative trunk height or spinal length

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Progressive scoliosis: idiopathic, congenital, syndromic, neuromuscular
* Progressive scoliosis with a Cobb angle that has advanced beyond 45˚
* 18 months to 10 years of age with open triradiate cartilages

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of fused ribs
* Presence of multiple absent ribs
* Thoracic dysplasia such as Jeune's syndrome or equivalent condition
* Prior spinal fusion or spinal instrumentation
* Patient is participating in another clinical trial using investigational devices/drugs
* Patient is unable or unwilling to sign a consent form