Development of orthosis following EDF serial casting for infantile scoliosis

Elongation-de-rotation-flexion (EDF) casting is a popular treatment for early-onset-scoliosis (EOS). However, casting every 2 to 3 months using general anesthesia may affect cognitive function.[1,2] Aims of this study: 1) to develop a new orthosis for EOS treatment based on EDF technique (EDFO) and traction frame; 2) to evaluate emerging radiographic results from treatment. Mehta's EDF serial casting method and AMIL traction frame were used to manually correct the spine for 3D trunk scan. Afterward, a digital spinal model was created and helped design the EDFO with CAD/CAM technology. Radiographic measurements included Cobb angle, RVAD, and thoracic height and width. Six patients (2 girls; 4 boys) diagnosed with idiopathic EOS were enrolled in the study. EDFO was applied at mean 36.5 months of age, after final EDF casting. The average major Cobb angle stabilized after treatment. Average RVAD increased. The average normalized thoracic width at last EDFO out-of-brace was less than prior to EDFO. The new asymmetric EDFO offers an alternative to serial casting and TLSO. EDFO is considered a cost-effective, safer, more breathable, removable, and less invasive modality.