Michael J. Elliott, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Valley Children's Healthcare in Madera, Calif., implanted MAGEC rods to correct the curvature of a patient's spine, according to The Fresno Bee.
Here are four highlights:
1. The patient was treated for a virus that left his muscles so weak his spine began to curve under the weight of his own body.
2. The patient was one of 19 children in California to get the virus that caused his neuromuscular scoliosis.
3. The MAGnetic Expansion Control rods are a product of Ellipse Technologies. According to a company spokesperson, the rods have been in use for only two years but are now being used in almost every major hospital for children in the United States.
4. After attaching the rods, adjustments are made using a computerized magnet that can turn the worm gears portion of the rods to the exact length needed. The process can be repeated every six months without the patient ever having to undergo surgery again.