Background: Bracing is the most efficient non-surgical method of treatment for idiopathic scoliosis patients with 25-45° curvature according to Cobb. The aim of the present study was to assess compliance of idiopathic scoliosis patients with medical instructions concerning the time patients should spend wearing orthopedic braces, patients' self-perceived health status and problems occurring in patients with idiopathic scoliosis.
Material and methods: A total of 51 patients aged between 9 to 18 years (84% females) treated for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with a thoracolumbar brace were asked to complete a survey titled ''The profile of quality of life with spine deformity". Survey data were subjected to statistical analysis.
Results: Mean brace-wearing compliance among the patients was about 70% of the required time of 23 h/day. The vast majority of patients - 48 (94%) -were satisfied with the treatment method and the results. Pain of about 4 pts (VAS scale) was reported by 18 patients. Excoriations occurred in 70% of the patients. We did not find a significant correlation between the time of brace-wearing per day vs. pain (p=0.18) and excoriations (p=0.36).
Conclusions: 1. Increasing the number of brace-wearing hours per day does not interfere with the socioeconomic relations and does not affect the child's sleep quality. 2. High awareness of the faulty posture is an important factor improving patients' assessment of the progress and methods of treatment. 3. The number of brace-wearing hours per day does not correlate with pain and epidermal injury; appropriate fitting of the brace to a given patient is of key importance here.