Surgeons Performed First U.S. Spinal Implant in Dallas
A six-year-old in Dallas became the first U.S. patient to receive a new implant designed to support spinal growth.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Children’s Health
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In July 2026, surgeons at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas performed the first U.S. implantation of the Spring Distraction System. This device offers a new approach for children with early-onset scoliosis to address spinal curvature.
Why it matters
The system is designed to allow for uninterrupted spinal growth in skeletally-immature patients while correcting curvature, potentially reducing the need for the frequent revision surgeries required by older methods.
While the Spring Distraction System has been used in approximately 160 children globally, this July 2026 procedure marked the first use of the device in the United States following FDA clearance earlier that year.
The players
Amy McIntosh
An orthopedic surgeon at Scottish Rite for Children who performed the first U.S. implantation.
Scottish Rite for Children
A Dallas-based pediatric health system specializing in the treatment of orthopedic conditions.
University Medical Center Utrecht
A Dutch academic medical center where researchers developed the Spring Distraction System.
Kingston Brown
The six-year-old patient who became the first person in the U.S. to receive the device.
Food and Drug Administration
The federal agency responsible for overseeing the safety and approval of medical devices.
The details
The device uses compressed helical springs housed around cobalt chrome rods to exert a continuous, gentle force that corrects spinal curvature as the child grows. These rods are anchored to the spine using titanium pedicle screws, with connectors lined with polyethylene to facilitate movement. By design, the system aims to accommodate a patient's natural skeletal development without the mechanical interventions common in magnetically-controlled growing rods.
Timeline
Development of the device began in the Netherlands in 2015.
The device received its first patent in the Netherlands in 2017.
A U.S. patent for the technology was filed in 2020.
The FDA cleared the device for use on January 19, 2026.
The first U.S. implantation took place in July 2026.
Health Landscape
This development represents a shift in pediatric scoliosis care, moving away from the reliance on magnetically-controlled growing rods that often require frequent revision surgeries. It marks a transition toward technology that emphasizes continuous, passive support for the developing spine.
Families managing early-onset scoliosis should discuss with their pediatric orthopedic surgeon whether new, continuous-force growth systems are appropriate for their child's specific curvature. These options are typically reserved for patients whose skeletons are still maturing.
The takeaway
The Spring Distraction System provides an alternative for treating scoliosis in young children by utilizing constant spring tension to guide spinal growth. Parents should monitor for any changes in a child's spinal alignment and discuss emerging surgical options with a pediatric specialist.
Further reading
For more on evolving standards in pediatric spinal care, visit our Children’s Health section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Press.
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