The first clinical application of magnets in pediatric surgery was introduced by Drs. Hendren and Hale in 1975, who applied electromagnetic bougienage to lengthen esophageal segments in a patient with congenital esophageal atresia (EA).1 Following this initial innovation, magnetic devices have been employed across a wide array of clinical indications with a myriad of uses. Today, magnets are used clinically as guidance systems, compression anastomosis devices, artificial physiologic sphincters, remodeling treatments for congenital skeletal disorders, and minimally invasive retractors.2 With respect to treating the pediatric population, magnets are most often used in the context of treating alimentary tract atresias and correcting congenital musculoskeletal disorders.

The most common indications for which magnets are used in pediatric surgery include EA, pectus excavatum (PE) and scoliosis. Building on Hendren and Hale's experience, Zaritzky et al. described the first instance of catheter-based magnetic anastomosis for infants with EA, followed by a later series where primary esophageal anastomosis was accomplished using catheter-based bullet-shaped magnet pairs.3,4 As an alternative to the Nuss and Ravitch procedures, Dr. Harrison and colleagues developed the Magnetic Mini-Mover Procedure (3MP) to correct PE gradually by applying an outwards magnetic force to the sternum over the course of months.5 Similarly, Dr. Akbarnia and colleagues pioneered the use of magnetically controlled growing rods for correction of early onset scoliosis.6 In the following manuscript, we will review the most common magnetic devices in use for pediatric surgical conditions as well as their outcomes and complications.