In 2019, a clinical research was published in Medical Science Monitor.(Rozek and Jasiewicz, 2019) This study was to determine the effect of preoperative treatment with SpineCor dynamic brace on the efficiency of surgical correction from a posterior approach in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

This study recruited 53 girls who underwent surgery from posterior approach due to idiopathic adolescent scoliosis. They were divided into a study group (Group A, 27 girls) which the participants had previously undergone treatment with the SpineCor brace for a minimum period of 18 months, and a control group (Group B, 26 girls) which formed by girls without a history of preoperative dynamic bracing. Girls in study group were given specific exercises before surgery too to enhance the effect of brace in creating the neuromuscular integration.

Outcome measures were amount of curve correction and coronal balance based on anteroposterior view X-ray obtained prior to surgery, at 1 week after surgery, and at 12 months after surgery. The amount of correction achieved at 1 week and 12 months was calculated with the following formula:

Coronal balance was defined as:

Table 1 showed basic data before and after surgery. In both groups, satisfactory correction was achieved after surgery and at 12-month follow-up. The amount of the achieved correction in Group A was greater than Group B about 6-7 degrees(Cobb angle reduced). However, no statistically significant differences were identified between the 2 groups.

Table 4 showed coronal balance before and after surgery. Before surgery, the coronal balance were the same as Group A and B.

At 1 week after surgery, patients in Group A showed slight coronal deviation(significant improvement in coronal balance), while group B showed an increase in coronal deviation even the 1 year later follow-up was showed the Group A is still better than B.

The significant coronal balance improvement post-surgery showed the benefits of preoperative SpineCor treatment. It is because of the sustained stimulation of deep sensation through integration on the nervous and musculoskeletal system occurring in the corrective movement strategy, resulting in improved coronal balance.

In conclusion, this study showed that a history of preoperative treatment with the SpineCor dynamic brace does not affect the amount of the achieved correction directly after surgery or at 12-month follow-up, but it does facilitate faster restoration of normal coronal balance after surgery.

References:

Rożek, K., & Jasiewicz, B. (2019). Effect of Preoperative SpineCor® Treatment on Surgical Outcome in Idiopathic Scoliosis: An Observational Study. Medical Science Monitor, 25, 754–759. doi: 10.12659/msm.912228