Effectiveness of Chêneau brace treatment for idiopathic scoliosis: prospective study in 79 patients followed to skeletal maturity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Progressive idiopathic scoliosis can negatively influence the development and functioning of 2-3% of adolescents, with health consequences and economic costs, placing the disease in the centre of interest of the developmental medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Chêneau brace in the management of idiopathic scoliosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective observational study according to SOSORT and SRS recommendations comprised 79 patients (58 girls and 21 boys) with progressive idiopathic scoliosis, treated with Chêneau brace and physiotherapy, with initial Cobb angle between 20 and 45 degrees, no previous brace treatment, Risser 4 or more at the final evaluation and minimum one year follow-up after weaning the brace. Achieving 50° of Cobb angle was considered surgical recommendation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At follow-up 20 patients (25.3%) improved, 18 patients (22.8%) were stable, 31 patients (39.2%) progressed below 50 degrees and 10 patients (12.7%) progressed beyond 50 degrees (2 of these 10 patients progressed beyond 60 degrees). Progression concerned the younger and less skeletally mature patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Conservative treatment with Chêneau orthosis and physiotherapy was effective in halting scoliosis progression in 48.1% of patients. The results of this study suggest that bracing is effective in reducing the incidence of surgery in comparison with natural history.</p

TLSO with Graphene Sensors—An Application to Measurements of Corrective Forces in the Prototype of Intelligent Brace

This study presents a prototype of Intelligent Brace—the gold medal winner in the 68th edition of the International EUREKA 2019 Competition, in Valencia, Spain. It shows how to improve the effectiveness of a static orthopedic brace, with modern technology based on advanced electronic solutions. The research uses in-house-made thin-film graphene sensors, an electronic system with a microcontroller and derotating pads, a mobile application for Android system, and a remote database. The article presents a description of the real project, the system principle of operation, and the layout of the system elements in the orthosis. A prototype device was designed and built that was tested not only in laboratory conditions, but also during trials with the first patient. Approximately two months of data were collected and interpreted. The collected research results provided basic knowledge about the range of forces exerted by the brace on the patient’s body, as well as the regularity of wearing the orthosis by the patient and compliance with the doctor’s recommendations

The Effectiveness of Early Rehabilitation in Limiting the Progression of Idiopathic Scoliosis

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess specific rehabilitation methods’ effectiveness in early idiopathic scoliosis (IS) development, focusing on lower limb functional inequality’s role in scoliosis progression. Materials and Methods: This study comprised 812 patients aged 6–16 years at risk of developing idiopathic scoliosis (IS). The mean (SD) age was 10.66 (3.16) years. Patients were categorized into high- and medium-risk groups based on the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) size. Specific scoliosis physiotherapy was used, and the average follow-up period was 28.1 ± 14.5 months. Changes in ATR, Cobb angle, and functional length of the lower limbs pre- and post-treatment were statistically analyzed across three age groups (6–9, 10–12, and 13–16 years) and three scoliosis locations. Results: Significant effectiveness of early rehabilitation was observed in the high-risk group of children aged 6–9 years. In the medium-risk group, significant reductions in ATR were observed in both the 6–9 and 10–12 age groups across all three scoliosis locations. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in the Cobb angle in the thoracolumbar region and a significant reduction in lower limb inequality across all age groups and scoliosis locations. Conclusions: The early implementation of specific physiotherapy may enhance the efficacy of idiopathic scoliosis treatment by attenuating factors contributing to its progression