Spinal Deformities and Advancement in Corrective Orthoses

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Spinal deformities (e.g., scoliosis, kyphosis) significantly impact daily life.
• Conventional spinal orthoses (braces) have been used for centuries but lack technological integration.
• There's a need to integrate modern technology into passive bracing for improved spinal treatment and rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review conventional passive spinal orthoses.
• To highlight advancements in spinal orthosis technology, including sensory design and active actuation.
• To explore new construction methods like CAD/CAM and 3D printing in spinal bracing.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of spinal orthoses.
• Analysis of 26 spinal orthoses, categorizing them into passive rigid/soft braces, active dynamics braces, and torso training devices.
• Examination of technological advancements in design, actuation, and manufacturing.

Main Results:

• Conventional braces are passive and have seen limited technological updates.
• Emerging spinal orthoses incorporate advanced sensory designs and active actuation mechanisms.
• New manufacturing techniques such as CAD/CAM and 3D printing are enabling customized and improved brace designs.

Conclusions:

• Modern technological integration is essential for advancing spinal orthoses beyond conventional passive designs.
• Smart sensory features and active actuation offer potential for more effective treatment of spinal deformities.
• Innovations in materials and manufacturing promise more personalized and effective spinal rehabilitation devices.