A treatment for children with spine complaints was reinstated in the UK one day after Your Local Guardian reported on concerns over its withdrawal.

On February 22, we reported how Great Ormond Street Hospital had been left “under pressure” as it was prevented from offering certain implants, leaving it reliant on others which required much more ongoing treatment.

Hampton schoolboy Harry Bridgeman, 11, wanted an extendable MAGEC rod but couldn’t get one, even though they were available across Europe and the USA.

On February 23, we have now learned, UK health watchdogs rubber-stamped the reintroduction of the rods.

“Your article must have got this over the line,” said Harry’s mum, Natalie. “Thank you so much for your support. This really is going to make such a different to so many families.

“I don’t think this has made it happen completely, but I definitely think it has sped it up.”

Harry’s scoliosis means his spine grows curved rather than straight.

He wanted an extendable MAGEC rod implanted to help it grow straight.

The MAGEC rod requires one surgery to implant it but is then extended as a child grows using powerful magnets – a simple, pain-free procedure.

Alternatives rods are extended through constant surgery – around one operation every six months.

MAGEC rods were withdrawn internationally over safety concerns raised in 2020 but had long since been reinstated in other countries after improvements by the manufacturer.

Your Local Guardian: Harry Bridgeman, 11, from Hampton, and his parents Chris and Natalie, have now been told he may not be able to get the MAGEC rod after all - but said its reintroduction would help many other familiesHarry Bridgeman, 11, from Hampton, and his parents Chris and Natalie, have now been told he may not be able to get the MAGEC rod after all - but said its reintroduction would help many other families (Image: Charles Thomson)

Catch Up:

Natalie said the manufacturer and UK regulators each blamed one another for the delay in discussions with her, but she believed the manufacturer as it “didn’t make sense” for them to hold up their own product.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has now confirmed: “As of Friday, February 23, the UK suspension has been lifted.”

The decision followed “expert, independent advice”, it said, adding: “Further communication to the healthcare system, patients and public will be issued shortly.”

Sadly, it may be too late for Harry, whose consultant has since said his spine may not grow anymore.

“We are gutted,” said Natalie, who is seeking a second opinion from genetic and hormone experts.

“It they think there is room for significant further growth, we are going to try for the MAGEC rod one last time.

“But hopefully the MHRA will learn from this and keep parents better informed in similar cases in future.”