Brace treatment
When your doctor has established, through regular check-ups, that your scoliosis is progressing, he can prescribe:
- A cast brace (which has almost been discontinued other than for infants).
- A rigid brace made of light plastic material. This is the current standard treatment and limits or stops the progression of the disease if worn 23 hours per day. Braces in this category include: Thermoplastic TLSO, Boston Brace, Cheneau Brace, Charleston Brace and Milwaukee Brace.
- A non-rigid dynamic brace (SpineCor). This provides at least the same efficiency as rigid braces in straightening curves during treatment but offers significantly better long-term post treatment results, cosmetic improvement and stable correction after brace removal. Additionally, SpineCor is much more acceptable for the patient, offering better cosmesis, almost total freedom of movement and continuation of sports and normal activity of daily living. The four hours per day break from treatment advised with SpineCor makes it even more acceptable to patients.
Surgical treatment
This ultimate treatment applies to 1 out of 23 scoliotic patients. It is recommended when the scoliosis is:
- Severe
- Rapidly worsening
- A trunk deformity is prominent.
What type of surgery is performed?
Metal rods are fixed to the spine and a vertebral fusion is carried out to permanently fix the spine. It requires a surgical procedure done under general anaesthesia. The region of the spine that has been operated on or fused becomes rigid; this has normally no major consequences to the daily life of the patient, short or mid- term although inevitably, there is some restriction of movement.
What is the purpose of the surgery?
- To reduce the deformity
- To stop the progression
- To avoid severe consequences on respiratory and cardiac functions which could evolve in the future.
Next Section : The SpineCor Brace >>
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