Curve progression after brace weaning in female adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

English Keywords:Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis  Brace weaning  Curve progression  SRS  Female

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectives: To investigate the curve progression after brace weaning in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS) girls, and to evaluate the potential indicators for curve progression after brace weaning. Methods: One hundred and thirty AIS girls fulfilling the Scoliosis Research Society(SRS) bracing criteria were included with an average age of 11.8±1.4 years(10-14 years). All the AIS girls were followed up regularly until at least 2 years after brace weaning. The demographics and radiographs at initial visit, brace weaning, 6m after weaning, 1y after weaning, 2y after weaning and the last follow-up were available for each patient. At each time point, the following parameters were calculated: percentage of patients with curve progression >5°, the mean progressive magnitude and rate. Curve progression after brace weaning was defined as increase in Cobb angle >5° at the last follow-up. Comparison between progressive and non-progressive groups was performed by using the independent t test. Results： Compared with brace weaning, at 6m, 1y, 2y and the last follow-up after brace weaning, the percentages of patients with curve progression >5° were 25.4%(33 cases), 32.3%(42 cases), 46.9%(61 cases) and 48.5%(63 cases); the mean progression magnitudes were 2.0°±4.4°, 3.2°±5.0°, 4.9°±5.5° and 5.1°±6.9°; the mean progression rates were 0.33°±0.71°/m, 0.20°±0.41°/m, 0.14°±0.29°/m and 0.01°±0.19°/m. No significant difference was found in age at initial visit, menarche age, Cobb angle at initial visit, initial correction rate, age at brace weaning between non-progressive and progressive group(P>0.05); and significant difference was found in Cobb angle at brace weaning(P<0.05) between two groups. Conclusions: AIS girls have relatively high risk of curve progression after brace weaning, and the highest rate of curve progression occurs within 6m after brace weaning. High Cobb angle at brace weaning indicates high risk of curve progression after brace weaning.