Don’t miss the opportunity to brace the skeletally immature patient with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) who has more than one year of growth remaining and a curve magnitude greater than 20 degrees.

Significant controversy still exists regarding the use of bracing in AIS patients at risk for curve progression and eventual surgery. A recent high-level study has convincingly shown that bracing impacts the natural history of AIS and, in those properly braced, significantly reduces the need for a subsequent operation. In light of the resulting decrease in the indications for surgical intervention, the bias against bracing should be re-evaluated.

 

Sources:

Weinstein SL, et al. Effects of bracing in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. N Engl J Med. 2013 Oct 17;369(16):1512-21. PMID: 24047455.