Adolescent Scoliosis: Is Bracing Effective?

The amount of time spent wearing a brace was positively associated with treatment success.

Idiopathic adolescent scoliosis develops in 3% of youth younger than 16 years, but only 0.3%–0.5% of cases progress to spine curves that require treatment. Curve progression <40 degrees typically stabilizes without long-term effects, and progression >50 degrees increases risk for progressive deformity, disc and joint degeneration, and neurological complications. Rigid thoracic-lumbar bracing is the most common nonoperative treatment to prevent progression >40 degrees, but studies of the effects of bracing are inconsistent.

In a multicenter study of 242 patients (age range, 10–15 years) with idiopathic adolescent scoliosis (Cobb angle for largest curve, 20–40 degrees), 116 agreed to be randomized to bracing or observation. The remaining 126 p…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics