We treated 18 girls for idiopathic thoracolumbar scoliosis with Chêneau brace. The apex of the curve was at Th12 or at L1 or at the disc Th12/L1. The initial Cobb angle varied from 21 to 42 degrees, mean 28. The follow up period was of 2 years and 6 months on the average. We noted the rib hump height on Adams' forward bending test. We measured Cobb angle, apical vertebra transposition and apical vertebra rotation (according to Perdriolle method) on antero-posterior standing radiograms before the treatment had started and at the moment of the best correction. We digitized antero-posterior and lateral standing radiograms with sonic digitizer GP-9 and we prepared computed reconstruction of the transversal plane of the spine with Hecquet and Graf's software RACHIS 91TM. The best clinical and radiological correction was achieved after 3 to 8 months of treatment (mean 5,5 months). We considered it as the fitting period and we analysed the correction achieved at that moment and at last follow-up. Cobb angle in brace ranged from 0 to 18 degrees, mean 9 degrees. The correction of apical vertebra transposition ranged from 51% to 100%, mean 80%. The correction of apical vertebra rotation ranged from 0% to 100%, mean 52%. The correction of rib hump ranged from 0 to 100%, mean 42%. Normal sagittal contour was established in 15 patients.


CONCLUSION: important correction was present in each of the three planes.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the Chêneau brace in the orthopedic treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis to better determine the indications under which it could be prescribed.


MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study including 63 patients treated by Chêneau brace for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis between 1997 and 2006. The Cobb angles of the curves in the frontal and sagittal planes as well as rotations and rib hump were measured at the beginning of treatment, with the brace, at the end of treatment and 2 years after discontinuing the brace. A variation of+/-10 degrees in angle was selected to judge the results.


RESULTS: At the end of the treatment, 25.4% of the curves were improved and 60.3% stabilized, with 14.3% aggravated; 5 patients (7.9%) required surgery. At 2 years, the reduction in angle was 1.8 degrees, on average. The best results were obtained for the lumbar and dorsolumbar curves. A significant improvement was noted for the dorsal curves; the major double curves are not as accessible to the treatment. For curves whose initial angle was less than 30 degrees , an initial reduction of higher than 50% with the brace presented the best improvement at the end of the follow-up. We note a significant reduction of the rib hump but not accompanied by a reduction of rotation. Finally, we note a deleterious effect in the sagittal curves, with a slight flatness of the spinal profile.


CONCLUSION: The continuous wearing of the Chêneau brace can stabilize the evolution of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, apart from the forms with major double curves, which are not as accessible to the treatment. However, the improvement comes at the price of a slight flatness of the curves of the spine in the sagittal plane. The loss of the correction after discontinuing the brace is minor. We emphasize, therefore, the necessity to monitor the sagittal aspect of the spine as well as the possibility of early treatment, strict surveillance and prolonged follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Different bracing concepts are used today for the treatment of scoliosis. The plaster cast method worldwide seems to be the most practiced technique at the moment. CAD (Computer Aided Design) systems are on the market which allow brace adjustments without plaster. The latest development however, is the use of the ScoliOlogiC off the shelf system enabling the orthopaedic technician to construct a light brace for scoliosis correction from a variety of pattern specific shells to be connected to an anterior and a posterior upright. This "Chêneau light" brace, developed according to the Chêneau principle, promises a reduced impediment of quality of life in the brace. However, material reduction should not result in reduced effectiveness. Therefore the primary correction effect in the "Chêneau light" brace has been evaluated and compared with that of other braces used today.


METHODS: The correction effects of the first 81 patients (main diagnosis Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) [n = 64] or Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS) [n = 15]), treated according to the principle of the "Chêneau light" brace were evaluated after an average treatment time of 6 weeks by a full-body X-ray made in the standing position whilst wearing the brace and compared with the last X-ray before bracing. The average curvature angle of the whole group was 35,6 degrees , the average age was 12,9 years (SD 1,9), average Risser sign was 1,3 (SD 1,5), average Tanner rating 2,75 (SD 0,7).


RESULTS: The Cobb angle in the whole group was reduced by an average of 16,4 degrees , which corresponds to a correction effect of 51%. The differences were highly significant in the T-test (T = 17,4; p < 0,001). The best correction effects reported in literature so far are about 40% in two different studies. The correction effect was highest in lumbar and thoracolumbar curve pattern (62 %; n = 18). In thoracic scoliosis the correction effect was 36 % (n = 41) and in double major curve pattern 50 % (n = 22). The correction effect correlated slightly negative with age (r = -0,24; p = 0,014), negatively with the Risser stage (-0,29; p = 0,0096) and correlated negatively with the Cobb angle measured before treatment (r = -0,43; p < 0,0001).


CONCLUSION: The use of the "Chêneau light" brace leads to correction effects above average when compared to the correction effects of other braces described in literature. The reduction of material seems to affect the desired correction in a positive way.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective comparison of the survival rates of two different bracing concepts with respect to curve progression and duration of treatment during pubertal growth spurt in two cohorts of patients followed up prospectively.


OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the results obtained by the use of a soft brace (SpineCor) is comparable to the results of the Chêneau derived TLSO during pubertal growth spurt.


BACKGROUND DATA: In recent peer reviewed literature, the SpineCor is described as an effective method of treatment for patients with scoliosis. However, until now, no controlled study has been presented comparing the results obtained with this soft brace to a sample treated with other bracing concepts proven effective.


METHODS: Twelve patients with Cobb angles between 16-32 degrees during pubertal growth spurt are presented as a case series treated with the SpineCor. The survival rate of this sample is described and compared to a matched group of patients treated with the Chêneau brace of the same age group. All girls treated in both studies were pre-menarchial with the first clinical signs of maturation (Tanner 1-3).


RESULTS: During the pubertal growth spurt, most of the patients (11/12) with SpineCor progressed clinicly and radiologicly as well (at least 5 degrees ). Progression could be stopped changing SpineCor to the Chêneau brace in most of the samples described (7/10). The avarage Cobb angle at the start of treatment with the SpineCor was 21.3 degrees , after an avarage observation time of 21.5 months, 31 degrees. The control sample, primarily treated with the Chêneau brace (n=15), showed at average no progression. Cobb angle at the start of treatment was 33.7 degrees and after the observation time of 37 months, 33.9 degrees . Radiological improvements can be reported for some of the cases (3/15) as well as progressions (3/15). At 24 months of treatment time, 73% of the patients with a Chêneau brace and 33% of the patients with the SpineCor where still under treatment with their original bracing concept, at 42 month follow-up time 80% of the patients with Chêneau braces and 8% of the patients with the SpineCor survived with respect to curvature progression. The differences of the proportions statisticly where highly significant.


CONCLUSIONS: The SpineCor does not change natural history of idiopathic scoliosis during the pubertal growth spurt. The use of the Chêneau brace seems to do so. Oncoming studies with the aim to test the efficiency of braces should be based on samples at immediate risk for progression (only girls with first signs of maturation but pre-menarchial).

STUDY DESIGN: Three-dimensional reconstructions of the spine and rib cage were done and compared just before and 1 month after initiation of treatment with a Boston brace in a group of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.


OBJECTIVES: To document the immediate changes in shape of the thoracic spine and rib cage induced by the original Boston brace design.


SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The effect of the Boston brace has been well documented in the frontal plane but is poorly understood in the other planes of deformity.


METHODS: Three-dimensional reconstructions were obtained with and without the brace using a stereoradiographic technique in a group of 40 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Several geometric indices of the spine and rib cage were compared using Student t tests.


RESULTS: The brace produced significant curve correction of the spinal deformity in the frontal plane at the expense of a significant reduction of thoracic kyphosis in the sagittal plane, as well as in the plane of minimum deformity. No significant effect on rotation of the thoracic apical vertebra, on the rib hump, or on frontal balance could be documented, but changes were noted in the sagittal orientation of the rib cage and in the sagittal balance of the spine.


CONCLUSIONS: The original Boston brace does not completely correct the three-dimensional deformities associated with thoracic idiopathic scoliosis, although it reduces Cobb angles in the frontal plane.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge on mechanisms of neurophysiological control of trunk movement and posture could help in the development of rehabilitation programs and brace treatment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). AIMS: Reviewing up-to-date research on neurophysiology of movement and posture control with the aim of providing basis for new researches in the field of AIS rehabilitation and background understanding for clinicians engaged in management of AIS.


METHODS: Review of literature.


RESULTS: We considered several neurophysiological issues relevant for AIS rehabilitation, namely, the peculiar organization of patterns of trunk muscle recruitment, the structure of the neural hardware subserving axial and arm muscle control, and the relevance of cognitive systems allowing mapping of spatial coordinates and building of body schema.


DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We made clear the reason why trunk control is generally carried out by means of very fast, feedforward or feedback driven patterns of muscle activation which are deeply rooted in our neural control system and very difficult to modify by training. We hypothesized that augmented sensory feedback and strength exercises could be an important stage in a rehabilitation program aimed at hindering, or possibly reversing, scoliosis progression. In this context we considered bracing not only as a corrective biomechanical device but also as a tool for continuous sensory stimulation that could help awareness of body misalignment. Future research aimed at developing strategies of trunk postural control learning is essential in the rehabilitation of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.