Radiological evaluation of treatment with SpineCor brace in children with idiopathic spinal scoliosis

Ortop Traumatol Rehabil. 2013 Jun 28;15(3):227-34. doi: 10.5604/15093492.1058414.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. This paper reports on a radiological evaluation of the outcomes of treatment with the SpineCor brace in children with idiopathic spinal scoliosis vs. a control group who had only received 24 months of rehabilitation. The compliance of the SpineCor-treated patients with medical instructions was also assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS. A prospective evaluation encompassed a group of forty (40) children, treated with a SpineCor brace for idiopathic scoliosis. A control group included forty (40) children who were followed up. The mean age of the children was 12.0 years and sixty-six (66) of the patients were girls. The study group and the control group were comparable in terms of demographic data and radiological parameters of scoliosis. The mean scoliosis angle was 25.3˚ and 26.1˚ in the thoracic and lumbar spine, respectively. RESULTS. In the (SpineCor-treated) study group, stabilisation or improvement of the scoliosis was obtained in 31 (78%) patients, while progression was noted in 9 (22%). In the control group, stabilisation was found in 21 (53%) patients and progression in 19 (47%), while none of the children met improvement criteria. In the brace-treated group, a smaller change in the thoracic curvature angle was observed (R=0.34, p=0.0001) than in the control group, while no such difference was identified at the lumbar spine level (R=0.15, p=0.18). Out of the 40 treated children, 38 used the brace regularly. Four of the children were active in sports above recreation level. CONCLUSIONS. The treatment of idiopathic spinal scoliosis in children by means of the SpineCor dynamic brace solution significantly more frequently led to stabilisation or correction of scoliosis as measured by Cobb's angle. A high compliance of the children and their parents was also observed.

MeSH terms

  • Biomedical Research
  • Braces*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Orthopedic Procedures / instrumentation
  • Prospective Studies
  • Radiography
  • Scoliosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Scoliosis / therapy*
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging*
  • Treatment Outcome