A new study of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) concluded that despite declining brace adherence over time, curve magnitude remained stable in most patients, aligning with bracing success criteria. The study also found that gender may predict brace adherence, and age may predict curve progression.
The research team reviewed the records of 62 patients who received a Boston Brace 3D TLSO from January 2014 to October 2019 at a single center. Brace adherence was measured using embedded temperature sensors. Brace wear was reported at four to six weeks (weaning period), and six, 12, 18, and 24 months from the first brace fitting. The researchers also analyzed demographic and socioeconomic variables including age, sex, race, ethnicity, median household income, insurance status, and pre-existing mental health conditions.
Among the patients whose average adherence peaked at 79 percent at six months and declined by 64 percent by 24 months, 84 percent were female, 63 percent white, and 11 percent publicly insured.
The findings suggested that males, on average, had 16 percent lower adherence to bracing compared to females.
The patient’s age at the pre-brace visit was found to be a statistically significant predictor of curve change at the 24-month follow-up, with each one-year age difference associated with a 3 degree increase in curve magnitude. Other sociodemographic variables were not significantly associated with adherence or curve change, according to the authors.
The study, “Curve stabilization at 2 years despite declining brace adherence in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a single-center cohort with sociodemographic analysis,” was published in the journal Spine Deformity.
