[Brace treatment of idiopathic scoliosis]

Idiopathic scoliosis is a complex three-dimensional deformity of the spine. In order to prevent a progressive course of the disorder, brace treatment is started in selected patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of brace treatment on the structural components in patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

We selected 54 patients and analysed standing radiographs at different stages. Cobb angle, lateral deviation, wedge angle and axial rotation were calculated. The patients were divided into two groups: group A, characterised by an initial correction with a following increase, and group B, in which the patients' disorder took a progressive course.

43 out of the 54 patients (79.6 %) had an initial correction followed by a gradual increase of the analysed variables. Cobb angle and the lateral deviation demonstrated a maximum significant correction of 23.8 % and 23.2 % respectively. After treatment the Cobb angle was 93.4 % and the lateral deviation was 106.1 % compared to the values measured before treatment. Axial rotation and wedge angle did not show any significant differences during follow up. Despite brace treatment, the disorder took a progressive course in the 11 patients (20.4 %) in group B.

This study indicates that brace treatment gives an initial correction of the analysed structural components of the scoliotic spine in four out of five patients. This is followed by a slow increase in the variables. This effect is most pronounced on Cobb angle and lateral deviation. In one out of five patients the disorder took a progressive course in spite of the brace treatment.