Back

Comparing Daytime and Nighttime Scoliosis Braces

This is the first report published on the use of two different braces for scoliosis using the new Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) Guidelines. The guidelines are a list of methods that should be used by all researchers when studying bracing for scoliosis.

If everyone carried out the experiment the same way, then the results could be compared directly. For example, all patients had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). AIS means the spine started to curve abnormally in a teenager. There was no known cause.

The age of the patients included was the same (10 years old or older). They all had the same size of spinal curvature (between 25 and 40-degrees). And the way the results were measured after bracing was the same. Other criteria were included as well.

The thoracolumbosacral (TLSO) brace was compared with the Providence. The TLSO is a brace that goes under the arms. It is smaller and more pleasing cosmetically compared to the full neck-to-sacrum Milwaukee brace. The Milwaukee is worn 22 hours each day. The Providence is worn only at night for eight to 10 hours.

Comparing the outcomes of these two braces (using the same criteria) showed that the Providence brace had better results. Not as many Providence patients' curves got worse. And far fewer ended up needing surgery. Even so, the results still suggested that bracing for AIS

As a result of this study, the authors also found out that earlier bracing has the best results. A separate group who received their braces when the curve was between 25 and 35 degrees had the best results. The authors plan to reevaluate the use of bracing sooner for patients with smaller curves (starting at 25 degrees).

References: Joseph A. Janicki, MD, et al. A Comparison of the Thoracolumbosacral Orthoses and Providence Orthosis in the Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. InJournal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. June 2007. Vol. 27. No. 4. Pp. 369-37.

Back