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Evolution of the curve patterns during brace treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

European Spine Journal volume 21, pages 1157–1164 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Summary of background data

The curve pattern of idiopathic scoliosis is important for making decisions concerning bracing. However, whether the curve pattern changes during brace treatment have not been fully documented. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of curve pattern during brace treatment in skeletally immature patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods

From January 2002 to January 2011, AIS patients treated with a Boston or Milwaukee brace were recruited after meeting the following inclusion criteria: older than 10 years of age at initiation of bracing; having a Cobb angle of 25°–40°; with a Risser sign 0–2; being regularly followed until the weaning of brace or the necessity of surgical treatment; and without history of previous treatment. A total of 130 female and 11 male AIS patients were included. The mean age was 12.9 years at initiation of bracing, and the female patients were, on average, 2.7 months past menarche. The mean follow-up period was 2.6 years (range 1.0–5.5 years). The definitions of changes in curve patterns were divided into four categories as follows: (1) shift of the apex of the main curve; (2) change in the curve span of more than two vertebrae; (3) change in the main curve type with regard to the apex location; and (4) change of curve direction. The patients were divided into two groups. Group A was comprised of patients who had experienced one or more categories of curve pattern changes, and Group B was comprised of those who had not.

Results

Of these 39 patients, 14 had apex shifting, 2 underwent curve span changes, 22 experienced changes in the main curve type, and one female had both changes in the apex and curve span. At the initiation of bracing, patients in Group A demonstrated significantly lower menarchal status (P = 0.018) and lower Risser grade (P = 0.025) than those in Group B. The difference in the percentage of patients who underwent Boston bracing between the two groups was statistically significant (41.5 % for Group A vs. 24.0 % for Group B, P = 0.023).

Conclusion

Changes in curve pattern can occur during brace treatment. Patients with less skeletal maturity and those treated with a Boston brace are more susceptible to this phenomenon.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Medical Science and technology development Foundation, Nanjing Department of Health (Grant No. ZKX11016) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 021414350009). No benefits in any form have been or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this manuscript.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Zhongshan Road 321, 210008, Nanjing, China

    Xin Zheng, Xu Sun, Bangping Qian, Tao Wu, Saihu Mao, Zezhang Zhu, Bin Wang & Yong Qiu

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  1. Xin Zheng
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  2. Xu Sun
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Correspondence to Yong Qiu.

Additional information

X. Zheng and X. Sun contributed equally to this work.

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Zheng, X., Sun, X., Qian, B. et al. Evolution of the curve patterns during brace treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Eur Spine J 21, 1157–1164 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2258-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2258-3

Keywords

  • Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
  • Brace treatment
  • Curve pattern