Innovative Techniques in Pediatric Deformity: Use of Temporary Internal Distraction and the Sacral Alar Iliac Technique in the Pediatric Population

Indications for, and clinical results of, temporary internal distraction for large rigid spinal deformity curves are reviewed. Use of this technique in 20 patients resulted in 54% initial correction and 79% final correction. One-third of the patients had temporary neuromonitoring changes. Use of low profile pelvic fixation with sacral alar-iliac screws from the sacral ala is described in 88 neuromuscular and syndromic patients. Pelvic obliquity was corrected to a mean of 5°. Eight of 176 screws showed lucency of >2 mm. Breakage did not occur in screws >8 mm. These techniques can aid in correction of severe deformity in children and adolescents.