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Good brace compliance reduced curve progression and surgical rates in patients with idiopathic scoliosis

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Abstract

Purpose

To examine the association between brace compliance and outcome.

Patients and methods

495 (457 females) patients with late onset juvenile and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were examined prospectively before bracing and at least 2 years after brace weaning. One spine surgeon examined all patients. 381 (353 females) answered a standardised questionnaire and 355 had radiological examination after median 24 years. Compliance was defined as brace wear >20 h daily until weaning. Main outcomes were curve progression and surgery.

Results

At weaning, 76/389 compliers and 59/106 non-compliers had curve progression ≥6° (OR 5.2, 95 % CI 3.3–8.2). At long-term the numbers were 68/284 and 46/71 (OR 5.8, 95 % CI 3.3–10.2), 10/284 versus 17/71 had been operated (OR 8.6, 95 % CI 3.7–19.9).

Conclusion

We conclude that the risk for curve progression and surgery are reduced in patients with good brace compliance.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the orthotists, nurses, and patients who made this study possible. We would also like to thank Tonje Midtsveen for coordinating patients at long-term, Julia Brox Skranes and Johanne Brox Skranes for punching the data, Per Lundvigsen for making the figures, and Raphael Adobor for comments on the draft of the paper. The study was supported by grants from the Foundation Sophies Minde Ortopedi AS.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section for Back Surgery, Orthopaedic Department, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien, 0027, Oslo, Norway

    Jens Ivar Brox & Johan Emil Lange

  2. Biomechanics Lab, Orthopaedic Department, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien, 0027, Oslo, Norway

    Harald Steen

  3. Radiological Department, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien, 0027, Oslo, Norway

    Ragnhild Beate Gunderson

Authors
  1. Jens Ivar Brox
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  2. Johan Emil Lange
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  3. Ragnhild Beate Gunderson
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  4. Harald Steen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jens Ivar Brox.

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Brox, J.I., Lange, J.E., Gunderson, R.B. et al. Good brace compliance reduced curve progression and surgical rates in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Eur Spine J 21, 1957–1963 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2386-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2386-9

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