Improvement of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Primary Correction by Brace Design Optimization

Abstract

(1) Background: Primary in-brace correction has been shown to be related to conservative adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) treatment outcome. The purpose of the study was to evaluate TLSO brace design changes over eight years regarding primary Cobb correction and de-rotation of the (major) curve. (2) Methods: This retrospective analysis included AIS patients treated with a full-time TLSO-brace in a single Orthopedic University hospital in 2012–2014 and 2017–2019. Brace design changes resulted from an evolutionary process, from a 3-point bending to a 3D TLSO. The brace parameters (presence of an anterior shoulder pad, posterior high-thoracic pad, thoracic space, and angle of the lumbar and thoracic pressure points) were analyzed regarding the primary (major) Cobb angle and apex rotation correction with a multivariate analysis. (3) Results: A total of 74 (63 female) patients were included in the study. The Cobb angle primary correction was significantly improved over the timeframe. The primary correction was significantly influenced by all design parameters and partially by its interactions with (curve specific) different effects on the Cobb correction and apex de-rotation. (4) Conclusions: Knowledge about the effects of brace design parameters on the curve’s angle and rotation correction enables improvements in individualized brace design and the brace optimization process.

Keywords

• bracing
• idiopathic scoliosis
• conservative treatment
• brace type
• cheneau brace
• primary correction