FDA-cleared, growth-friendly spinal implant developed in the Netherlands marks its U.S. clinical debut in a child with early-onset scoliosis
DALLAS, Texas and Schiedam, the Netherlands, 26 June, 2026
– OrthoSpineNews-
Cresco Spine, the Dutch medical technology company behind the Spring Distraction System™ (SDS™), today announced the first implantation of the device in the United States. The procedure was performed at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas by pediatric orthopedic surgeon Amy L. McIntosh, M.D., in a young patient with neuromuscular scoliosis. The system received FDA 510(k) clearance in January 2026 for the treatment of early-onset scoliosis.
Early-onset scoliosis is diagnosed in children younger than 10, during a critical window when the spine, lungs, and chest are still developing. Traditional growth-friendly treatments often require a series of operations or lengthening interventions through childhood to keep pace with growth. SDS™ uses a spring-based mechanism that applies continuous, gentle correction and distraction as the child grows, which is designed to support more natural development of the spine and chest while reducing the number of return procedures.
The clinical foundation for SDS™ was built over more than a decade at University Medical Center Utrecht, where more than 150 children have been treated with the first versions of SDS™ and followed up for up to ten years. The program produced the first randomized controlled trial in pediatric spine surgery, evidence of disc preservation within the distraction zone where rigid systems show deterioration, and a graduation cohort of children who completed treatment with mobile spines, maintained correction, and near-physiological growth.
The first U.S. case reflected a long-running clinical relationship rather than a one-off procedure.
“From the early phase of the development of our dynamic system, there has been great interest from the Dallas Scottish Rite team. Dr. Charlie Johnston has been critically supportive from the very beginning, so it was natural that the first procedure outside the Netherlands would be done here, given the international reputation of the hospital,” said Rene Castelein, M.D., Ph.D., co-inventor together with Moyo Kruyt of the Spring Distraction System™ and professor emeritus of orthopedic surgery. “Dr. Amy McIntosh, who performed the surgery, did a terrific job. Although I have done many of these procedures, she made me think, is it really that easy. I am very happy that the patient is doing well, and I hope the system gives this child a better future with far fewer hospital visits.”
Scottish Rite for Children selected SDS™ for this patient because it provides continuous, gentle spinal correction and distraction that may reduce the burden of care while helping preserve sitting balance, comfort, and respiratory function, key considerations in children with spinal muscular atrophy.
The U.S. debut marks the start of the system’s availability to pediatric spine surgeons in the United States.
About the Spring Distraction System™
The Spring Distraction System™ is a growth-friendly spinal implant for children with early-onset scoliosis. Rather than holding the spine rigidly, it uses a spring-based mechanism to deliver continuous, dynamic correction and distraction that adapts as the child grows, with the goal of preserving spinal motion and reducing the number of surgical interventions during childhood. SDS™ received FDA 510(k) clearance in January 2026.
About Cresco Spine
Cresco Spine is a medical technology company based in Schiedam, the Netherlands, founded in 2021 to bring the Spring Distraction System™ from academic research at University Medical Center Utrecht into clinical practice worldwide. The company develops growth-friendly technologies that aim in the future to work with the natural behaviour of the developing and degenerative scoliotic spine rather than against it. More information is available at www.cresco-spine.com.
About Scottish Rite for Children
Scottish Rite for Children has been dedicated to giving children back their childhood for more than a century and is a world-renowned leader in the treatment of pediatric orthopedic conditions, including scoliosis. The institution operates campuses in Dallas and Frisco, Texas. More information is available at scottishriteforchildren.org.
Media contact
Nancy Lamerigts
Cresco Spine
Nancy@Cresco-spine.com
+31 6 54 24 84 59
