Factors That Influence In-Brace Correction in Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

To identify the factors affecting in-brace correction in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with AIS receiving Gensingen brace treatment in our scoliosis center from July 2015 to October 2017 was performed. The selection of patients was in accordance with the Scoliosis Research Society inclusion criteria for a bracing study. Some radiographic and clinical parameters, including the Cobb angle, rib-vertebra angle difference, coronal and sagittal balance, lumbar-pelvic relationship (LPR), Risser sign, curve type, age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, and menstrual status were collected. The correlation and difference analyses were performed to identify the factors influencing in-brace correction.

A cohort of 112 patients with AIS (94 girls and 18 boys) were included in the present study. The mean in-brace correction was 59.29% ± 22.33% (range, 16.22%-100.00%). In-brace correction showed a significantly negative correlation with the major curve Cobb angle, minor curve Cobb angle, total curve Cobb angle, and LPR (P < 0.05 for all). Sagittal and coronal imbalance could reduce the curve correction (P < 0.001 and P = 0.008, respectively). The remaining parameters were not related to in-brace correction.

In-brace correction in the present study was 59.29% ± 22.33% (range, 16.22%-100.00%). Some factors, including the Cobb angle, sagittal and coronal balance, and LPR, have an effect on in-brace correction. The results from the present study can provide some useful information for brace design and fabrication.