Idiopathic scoliosis adolescents find bracing as being effective

There was a study led by the University of Iowa by researchers to find out of braces are helpful in preventing the need for spinal correction surgery in children with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine today. The study was led by Stuart Weinstein, MD, Ignacio V. Ponseti Chair and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Professor of Pediatrics at University of Iowa Children`s Hospital and Lori Dolan, PhD, a research scientist in The Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at the UI Carver College of Medicine. If AIS is monitored and treated in time, it is fine. In its severe forms, children who have the disease but are still growing are recommended to use a brace or surgery. Left untreated, the condition becomes painful. Weinstein is working with scoliosis patients since 40 years and bracing is used as treatment since 1948. He wants to find out if bracing is really able to prevent surgery. There were 383 patients chosen for the study and randomly assigned to two groups: bracing group and observation group. 72% of scoliosis patients in the bracing group, wearing braces for 18 hours daily came up with successful results. “This study definitely shows braces work and are effective in preventing the need for surgery”, Weinstein says. “Children who are at risk should be treated with a brace, and they should wear it at least 13 hours a day for it to be effective”.