Nighttime bracing for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with the Charleston bending brace. Preliminary report

The authors report their preliminary experience with the Charleston bending brace for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. This brace holds the patient in the position of maximum side bend correction and is worn only at night. Patients in this prospective multicentered study met all the following criteria: skeletal immaturity (Risser 0, 1+, or 2+), curvature greater than 25 degrees before bracing, no prior treatment, and greater than 1-year follow-up since initiation of treatment. There were 191 structural curves in the 139 patients. One hundred fifteen patients (83%) showed improvement or less than 5 degree change in curvature. Twenty-four patients (17%) demonstrated an increase in curvature greater than 5 degrees. Based on these preliminary results, continued use of bending brace treatment at nighttime only is justified for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Patients with double curves should be observed closely for increase in compensatory curves.     

Factors affecting curve flexibility in skeletally immature and mature idiopathic scoliosis

Background  

The determination of factors affecting curve flexibility is important in idiopathic scoliosis patients with regard to the Risser sign. The objective of this retrospective study was to identify factors affecting curve flexibility in patients with skeletally immature and mature idiopathic scoliosis.     

Results of treatment of idiopathic scoliosis with the Charleston bending orthosis

The authors present a preliminary retrospective review of the treatment of 32 patients with idiopathic scoliosis with the Charleston bending thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO), a new, low-profile spinal orthosis. At the onset of treatment, the patients' mean age was 12.5 years and the mean Risser stage was 0.4. Females achieved menarche at an mean of 1.8 months after starting orthotic treatment. Single structural curves were treated in all patients. At this time, 2 patients have failed treatment, their curves progressing 12 degrees and 8 degrees, respectively. An additional 11 patients have successfully completed treatment, having reached skeletal maturity with no more than 5 degrees of curve progression. Their mean curve change was a 2.2 degrees decrease. The other 19 patients remain under treatment. The Charleston bending TLSO is worn only during nighttime sleeping hours. It is well tolerated, with excellent patient compliance and low psychological stress, and it may be as successful at curve control as other orthoses. Experience with more patients and longer follow-up is needed.     

Part-time bracing of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Forty-four patients with fifty-five scoliotic curves were studied to determine the efficacy of part-time bracing. All patients were skeletally immature at the initiation of treatment with the brace. All but one of the patients had a curve of at least 25 degrees that had shown 5 degrees of documented progression. Each patient wore the brace for sixteen hours a day, most patients preferring not to wear it during school hours. The patients all completed the course of treatment. Because of the margin of error in radiographic measurements, a change in the magnitude of the curve of 5 degrees or more was considered significant. Twenty-five patients, with twenty-seven curves, showed a change of less than 5 degrees from the initiation of brace treatment to final follow-up. The other nineteen patients (twenty-eight curves) showed a change of more than 5 degrees in at least one of the curves, with four of them showing worsening and the other fifteen showing improvement.     

青少年特发性脊柱侧凸的支具治疗

目的探讨青少年特发性脊柱侧凸支具治疗的适应证,并评价其临床疗效。方法77例骨骼发育未成熟的青少年特发性脊柱侧凸患者接受Milwaukee支具或Boston支具矫正,男15例,女62例;年龄10～15岁,平均12.7岁。胸腰双主弯26例、单胸弯37例、单胸腰弯或腰弯14例。原发弯Cobb角22°～62°,平均35.9°;20°～35°者37例,>35°者40例。Risser征0度38例、Ⅰ度19例、Ⅱ度13例、Ⅲ度7例。每3～6个月定期复查,复查时均摄佩带支具前、后的站立位全脊柱正位X线片,测量初次就诊及末次随访时的Cobb角、顶椎旋转度及Risser征。结果全部病例随访24～60个月,平均30个月。29.9%的病例出现脊柱侧凸进展,不同类型脊柱侧凸中胸腰双主弯进展率最低,但与其他类型比较差异无显著性。Risser征越小,初诊支具矫正率越大、侧凸进展率越高,且Risser征Ⅰ度组(包括0度)与Ⅱ度组之间、Ⅰ度组与Ⅲ度组之间初诊支具矫正率的差异有显著性(P<0.05)。原发弯Cobb角20°～35°组的初诊支具矫正率大于Cobb角>35°组(P<0.05);而侧凸进展率低于Cobb角>35°组,但差异无显著性。21例因出现侧凸进展而采用手术矫形,支具治疗使其中13例的手术时间推迟了12～20个月。结论Risser征可作为预测青少年特发性脊柱侧凸支具矫正成功率的一个指标。不同类型脊柱侧凸中胸     

幼儿特发性脊柱侧凸研究进展

幼儿时期的脊柱存在很大的生长潜能,因此幼儿期的特发性脊柱侧凸（immature idiopathic scoliosis,immature IS）是临床上的一个诊治难题。若处理不及时可以导致脊柱侧凸进一步加重、发展加快、影响心肺等系统的功能发育。手术干预处理过早则会破坏脊柱的正常生长发育规律,造成脊柱发育不全等。因此充分理解幼儿IS的特点对正确选择治疗时机和方法显得十分重要。本文通过分析最近的相关文献,对幼儿IS的基础和临床研究进展作一综述。     

青少年特发性脊柱侧凸支具治疗结束后近期矫正丢失及影响因素

目的:观察青少年特发性脊柱侧凸(adolescent idiopathic scoliosis,AIS)支具治疗结束后短期内侧凸的矫正丢失情况,并探讨其影响因素。方法:选取2002年10月～2007年12月在我院完成规范化支具治疗后短期随访的AIS患者84例,其中男4例,女80例。初诊时年龄10～15岁,平均12.8岁;Risser征0～3级,平均1.6级;主弯Cobb角20°～43°,平均29.5°。胸腰双主弯36例,单胸弯22例,单胸腰弯或腰弯26例。所有患者在初诊、复查时均摄佩带支具前后站立位全脊柱正位X线片。分别测定不同时期侧凸Cobb角,记录侧凸类型、Risser征、患者的生理年龄及月经初潮时间,分析去除支具后侧凸的矫正丢失情况及影响因素。结果:AIS患者支具治疗后主弯Cobb角的平均矫正率为12.4%,其中14例(16.7%)患者在治疗期间出现脊柱侧凸进展,不同弯型脊柱侧凸的侧凸矫正率、进展率比较差异无显著性(P0.05)。支具治疗结束时主弯Cobb角10°～37°,平均25.5°,明显小于初诊时的29.5°(P0.05),停用支具后6～18个月主弯Cobb角为27.2°,与支具治疗结束时比较无显著性差异(P0.05)。停用支具后,有15例(17.6%)患者出现脊柱侧凸进展,不同弯型脊柱侧凸进展差异无统计学意义(P0.05);侧凸进展的患者在支具治疗时主弯Cobb角的平均矫正率为23.3%,明显高于未出现侧凸进展患者的10.6%,且差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。停用支具时不同Cobb角组后期出现侧凸进展的概率无显著性差异(P0.05)。结论:支具治疗能够有效控制AIS患者侧凸的进展。在结束支具治疗后短期内随访侧凸矫正基本稳定,但仍有一小部分患者会出现侧凸进展,这种进展与弯型、侧凸的严重程度无关,可能与支具治疗期间侧凸的矫正率较大有关。     

Radiographic and functional outcome after surgical management of severe scoliosis in skeletally immature patients with muscular dystrophy

OBJECTIVE: Most patients with muscular dystrophy (MD) develop progressive scoliosis after losing ambulatory status, but some cases develop severe scoliosis at a skeletally immature age before losing ambulatory status. Only a few studies have been conducted in skeletally immature patients with severe scoliosis. The purpose of this study was to assess the functional and cosmetic outcome in skeletally immature patients with severe scoliosis. METHODS: Preoperative, immediate postoperative, and final follow-up radiographs were analyzed in 10 consecutive skeletally immature patients with respect to the Cobb angle degree and the pelvic obliquity angle correction, how long the correction was maintained, and the development of the crankshaft phenomenon. In the functional assessment, the ability to sit balanced, according to the Mulcahy method, and the ability to use hands, according to the Rhyu method, were evaluated. Furthermore, the degree of subjective satisfaction was evaluated in these patients. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 10.4 years, and the average follow-up period was 33 months with minimum 2 years' follow-up. All 10 patients survived and were available at the follow-up. The mean Cobb and pelvic obliquity angles were 80 degrees and 17 degrees at the time of the surgery, 31 degrees and 3.7 degrees immediately after the surgery, and 35 degrees and 4.7 degrees at the time of the final follow-up, respectively. The initial mean Cobb angle correction averaged 61%, with 78% of pelvic obliquity corrected. These corrections were maintained over time in most cases. At the time of the surgery, the mean volume of blood loss was 1111 mL, with an average operation time of 411 minutes. There were no major complications. At the time of the last follow-up, no patient showed development of the crankshaft phenomenon. The average score for the ability to sit balanced improved from 4.4 to 6.6 according to the Mulcahy evaluation method. The scores for hand use were 2.2-2.7. However, the forced vital capacity of the lungs decreased from a preoperative 48% to 46.1%. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that even in very young MD patients with severe scoliosis, acceptable curve correction can be achieved and maintained with surgery. The improved pelvic obliquity and scoliosis angle stabilized the spine, freeing the upper extremities and allowing productive activities characteristic of childhood.     

Nighttime bracing with the Providence brace in adolescent girls with idiopathic scoliosis

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study was conducted of 102 consecutive female patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Those patients with Risser 0, 1, and 2 met the criteria for inclusion and were treated only with the Providence brace. OBJECTIVES: To report the authors' experience with a hypercorrective nighttime brace and to evaluate the results with respect to risk factors for progression. Second, the study compares results with expectations from the natural history as reported by others. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Compliance with full-time brace treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has been a problem. Since the introduction of the Milwaukee brace, alternatives such as low-profile braces, reduced wearing schedules, and nighttime only bracing have been tried. However, many factors influence the success or failure besides compliance. These include in-brace correction, brace design, and the orthotist's skills. This is the first report of the results of treatment with a new nighttime brace that is made with CAD/CAM technology that can achieve higher initial in-brace corrections than other reported methods. METHODS: Results were analyzed with respect to curve size, curve pattern, maturity, and level of the primary curve apex. Both compliant and noncompliant patients were included in the analysis. A univariate analysis was done on those factors thought to influence success with bracing using the Pearson chi2 test. RESULTS: The average initial in-brace correction with a supine radiograph was 96% for major curves and 98% for minor curves. Seventy-five patients (74%) did not progress >5 degrees and 27 patients (26%) progressed > or =6 degrees or went on to surgery. Twenty-nine percent of Risser 0 or 1 patients progressed and 17% of patients Risser 2 progressed. The risk of progression anticipated by natural history data, which included all curve patterns, was 68% for Risser 0 and 1 and 23% for Risser 2. Risser 3 and 4 patients were excluded from the study. Seventy-six percent of patients with curve apexes between T8 and L1 had successful outcomes using the Providence brace. This is compared with a 74% success rate in the prospective Scoliosis Research Society study of patients wearing a thoraco lumbar sacral orthosis for 16 hours per day with curve apexes between T8 and L1. With the Providence brace, 63% of thoracic curves and 65% of double curves were successful. Ninety-four percent of lumbar curves and 93% of thoracolumbar curves were successful. CONCLUSION: Excellent initial in-brace correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was observed with this computer-designed and manufactured recumbent brace. Patients with high apex curves cephalad to T8 (n = 31) had a success rate of 61% compared with a success rate of 79% (n = 71) if the apex was at or below T9. Compared with previous natural history and the prospective study data, the Providence brace is effective in preventing progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis for curves <35 degrees. It was effective for larger curves with a low apex. The authors' experience with patients with curves >35 degrees (n = 8) is too small to validate its effectiveness for larger curves with a higher apex.     

The Boston bracing system for idiopathic scoliosis. Follow-up results in 295 patients

A total of 295 patients treated with the Boston bracing system with follow-up of at least 1 year after completion of bracing are reviewed. Pre-brace curves ranged from 20-59 degrees Cobb. Mean age at brace initiation was 13.2 years with a mean treatment time of 2.9 years and mean follow-up of 1.4 years. Mean best in-brace correction averaged 50% with correction averaging 23% at the initiation of weaning from the brace. By the time of brace discontinuance, average curve correction was 15%. At follow-up, average correction was 11%. A comparison of follow-up with pre-brace values of major curves showed that 49% were unchanged +/- 5 degree, 39% achieved final correction of 5-15 degrees, 4% achieved final correction of 15 degrees or more, 4% of patients lost 5-15 degrees, and 3% lost more than 15 degrees by the time of follow-up. Eleven percent of patients underwent surgery during the period of bracing; 1% had surgery during follow-up period. Correction and control of major curves with apexes below T8 and above L2 were best. A strong correlation between best, or initial in-brace correction, and follow-up correction was noted. Young age at the initiation of bracing and higher degrees of pre-brace curvature increased the incidence of surgery. Those curves that had corrected most at the end of bracing were most at risk for loss of correction after bracing. Partial compliance with brace wear appeared as effective as full-time wear. Boston braces without superstructure appeared to be as effective as braces with superstructure for curves with apexes below T7.     

Biological factors and predictability of bracing in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Biological factors that could have a predictive value in treating idiopathic scoliosis by brace were studied in 107 patients (102 girls and 5 boys). The mean age of the patients was 14 years 6 months, and the mean Cobb angle of the curves was 36 degrees at start of treatment. The Boston brace was used for an average of 1 year 6 months, and mean follow-up time after weaning was 3 years. Scoliosis with an apex of Th 10-12 proved to be the most favorable for the final result, with a mean correction of 2 degrees. All other curves remained unchanged. Patients who had a period of rapid growth just before or during treatment had a better final result than the others. The final result was also better when treatment was started before menarche.     

Expandable endoprosthesis reconstruction in skeletally immature patients with tumors

Between September 1984 and January 1996, 32 expandable endoprostheses were used for limb reconstruction after resection of malignant bone tumors in patients who were skeletally immature. The 20 boys and 12 girls ranged in age from 3 to 15 years (mean, 9.7 years). One patient had a Stage IIA tumor, 22 patients had Stage IIB tumors, and seven patients had Stage III tumors according to the classification of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society. There also were two patients with parosteal osteosarcomas. The histologic diagnosis was osteosarcoma in 23 patients and Ewing's sarcoma in nine. All patients except the patients with parosteal osteosarcoma received standard neoadjuvant therapy. Twenty-two Lewis Expandable Adjustable Prostheses, four modular Wright Medical prostheses, four modular Howmedica prostheses, and two Techmedica expandable prostheses were used. Thirteen patients died, two have no evidence of disease, and 17 are continuously disease free. Sixteen of 32 patients (50%) have not had an expansion procedure because of early death in 10 and early amputation in three. Three patients are waiting to undergo an expansion procedure. Sixteen of the 32 patients (50%) have undergone 32 expansion procedures, to a maximum of 9 cm, without any infection. To maintain range of motion before the expansion procedure, a complete resection of the pseudocapsule was done routinely. Fourteen of the 32 patients did not have complications. Eighteen of the 32 patients had 27 complications. All Lewis Expandable Adjustable Prosthesis endoprostheses and the two nonmodular Techmedica prostheses were associated with a large amount of titanium debris. The children's functional results were similar to the results reported for adults with an average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society rating of good to excellent at the knee, fair to good at the hip, and fair about the shoulder. Rehabilitation of the knee in very young patients (5-8 years) remains problematic and careful selection of patient and family is necessary. The Lewis Expandable Adjustable Prosthesis probably should be reserved for very young patients (5-8 years) and modular systems should be used for large preadolescent and adolescent children.     

性别对青少年特发性脊柱侧凸患者支具治疗效果的影响

目的:比较男、女性青少年特发性脊柱侧凸(adolescent idiopathic scoliosis,AIS)患者支具治疗的效果,探讨性别因素对支具治疗效果的影响。方法:2003年7月~2009年7月在我院完成支具治疗的男性AIS患者19例(A组),初诊时平均年龄14.0±2.0岁,平均主弯Cobb角28.8°±5.7°,初始Boston支具治疗6例,Milwaukee支具治疗13例;随机抽取同时期完成支具治疗的女性AIS患者57例(B组),初诊时平均年龄13.0±1.4岁,平均主弯Cobb角29.4°±6.1°,初始Boston支具治疗17例,Milwaukee支具治疗40例。定义末次随访时Cobb角大于初诊6°或治疗期间建议行矫形手术者为侧凸进展。结果:两组初诊时Risser征(P=0.786)、Cobb角(P=0.790)、弯型分布(P=0.350)和应用支具类型分布(P=0.350)等无显著性差异。A组和B组平均支具治疗时长分别为2.1±0.7年和2.5±0.9年,平均依从性分别为84.4%±7.6%和87.1%±5.7%。A组患者中发生侧凸进展8例(42%),其中需手术治疗者6例(32%);B组中侧凸进展12例(21%),其中需手术治疗者10例(18%)。男性患者侧凸进展比例高于女性,但统计学差异不明显(P=0.071)。两组中,生长发育状态低下、侧凸Cobb角大及主胸弯型患者侧凸进展比例高。结论:支具治疗可有效控制多数AIS患者的侧凸进展,女性患者支具治疗效果可能好于男性患者。     

Pulmonary restrictive effect of bracing in mild idiopathic scoliosis.

The use of bracing in the treatment of mild idiopathic scoliosis is controversial. A study of 33 adolescents showed that bracing significantly decreased lung volumes. Functional residual capacity was reduced by a mean of 26%, 18% of children showing a reduction of greater than 40%. The mean reduction in total lung capacity was 16% and in forced vital capacity 18%. This restriction of lung function by bracing might have a deleterious effect on lung growth or might impose an additional risk factor in the presence of other disorders, such as asthma and diaphragmatic weakness. The use of bracing in individuals with mild scoliosis should be judiciously reassessed.     

Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation in skeletally immature patients

Treatments of atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation in children are generally conservative. Previous reports have proposed that surgical treatment be reserved for fixed rotatory subluxation of more than 3 months duration, irreducible deformity or cases of recurrence. Six skeletally immature patients with Fielding type III atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation were treated conservatively with or without subsequent atlanto-axial arthrodesis. The follow-up period for all the cases exceeded 18 months. Results and outcomes were analysed with an emphasis on the delay until diagnosis, causes of delays in diagnosis and factors influencing the necessity of surgical intervention. Neither mortality nor major morbidity was noted in any cases in this study. In our experience, type III fixed rotatory subluxation of 6 weeks duration will potentially recur. We recommend early surgery for type III fixed rotatory subluxation of more than than 3 months' duration, with atlanto-axial arthrodesis being a safe and effective procedure in children.