Impact of customized add-on nighttime bracing in full-time brace treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Study designRetrospective cohort study. ObjectiveBracing is an accepted standard therapy for idiopathic scoliosis at Cobb angle ranges between 25 degrees and 40 degrees. However, it is unclear, if a specifically tailored regimen of daytime and nighttime braces (= double brace) yields superior results compared to the standard treatment (single brace for day and night). MethodsOne-hundred-fifteen patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) were assessed before initiation of bracing treatment and at the final follow-up 2 years after deposition of the brace. They were divided into two groups: double-brace group (n = 66, 4 male, 62 female, age 13.1 +/- 1.9 (mean +/- SD), primary curvature thoracic n = 35, lumbar n = 31) and single-brace group (n = 49, 8 male, 41 female, age 14.1 +/- 1.9, primary curvature thoracic n = 18, lumbar n = 31). Each patient underwent clinical and radiological examinations and Cobb angles were measured. ResultsBoth therapy regimens succeeded to either stop progression or improve scoliosis in over 85% of cases. The nighttime brace showed a significantly higher primary correction than the daytime brace. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in treatment success in the 2-year follow-up (p = 0.58). ConclusionIt seems to be sufficient to treat idiopathic scoliosis with one well-tailored brace for day- and nighttime.