Scoliosis: Life, Support & Friends

Scoliosis Journal report about brace treatment for patients with Scheuermann`s disease - a review of the literature and first experiences with a new brace design Authors: Hans-Rudolf Weiss, Deborah Turnbull and Silvia Bohr Published: 29 September 2009 Background In contemporary literature few have written in detail on the in-brace correction effects of braces used for the treatment of hyperkyphosis. Bradford et al. found their attempts effective, treating Scheuermann's kyphosis with Milwaukee braces, but their first report did not specifically focus on in-brace corrections. White and Panjabi's research attempted to correct a curvature of > 50 degrees with the help of distraction forces, but consequently led to a reduction in patient comfort in the application of the Milwaukee brace. In Germany they avoid this by utitlising braces to treat hyperkyphosis that use transverse correction forces instead of distraction forces. Further efforts to reduce brace material have resulte...

Axial Biotech declared some news today via PRNewswire, I would like to share that with you. I don´t have much to say about this as I am no Dr!, however, Wow - I have been reading about DNA tests being linked to treatment for Scoliosis and disease progression but now it looks like we are really rocking! I look forward to following Axial in their developments of DNA. Axial Biotech Announces Commercial Availability of SCOLISCORE(TM) AIS Prognostic Test The first marketed product of Axial's pipeline of personalized diagnostics for spine disorders SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Axial Biotech, Inc., a company personalizing spine care through the development of molecular diagnostics, announced today that its SCOLISCORE(TM) AIS Prognostic Test is now being made available to spine specialists in the United States. SCOLISCORE is a saliva-based genetic test designed to predict the risk of progression of scoliosis, an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. Spine surgeons from 40 m...

It’s really hard to tell what to eat these days, one minute something’s good for you, next it might just as well be poison. Sales of blueberries, walnuts and spinach and other more esoteric things like goji berries, spirulina and chlorella have taken off in the past few years as, everywhere you look, something seems to be telling you about their particular 'health' benefits. Eat them, we're told, to help reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. But where’s the science? Actually, there is no definition of superfood. It gets applied to foods from oats to walnuts, spinach to yoghurt, turkey to watercress and beetroot . Meat and fish contain protein and other nutrients. Fruit and vegetables also contain essential vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals (bioactive non-nutrient components) that are good for health. Labelling some as superfoods could give the impression that they are more health-enhancing than others. The fruits and vegetables given the superfood tag tend ...

The Irish Medical Times have reported about the backlog at the Crumlin Hospital. There are currently a backlog of 70 operations to correct spinal deformity and by February 2010 this backlog is expected to be cleared, with children due to be operated upon from later this month. His report below gives a greater description of the situation, written by Gary Culliton A new initiative to address the waiting list has been agreed between the HSE and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin; Temple Street; Tallaght; and Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospitals, in collaboration with consultant orthopaedic surgeons. Click here The surgery for the 70 patients, who have had all of their pre-operative assessments completed, will be undertaken at either of the four above hospitals ‘as appropriate, based on the particular clinical needs of each patient’, IMT has been informed. The hospitals have communicated with the patients and their families regarding the arrangements. According to the Dublin crit...

Scoliosis Journal reported an assessment of angle velocity in girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis Authors: Ferran Escalada, Ester Marco, Roser Belmonte, Esther Duarte, Josep M Muniesa, Marta Tejero, Roser Boza and Enric Caceres Published: 16 September 2009 Background Although it has been demonstrated that the peak height velocity (PHV) is a predictive factor of progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), little is known about the usefulness of angle progression in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to establish a relationship between height and angle velocities, as well as to determine if peak angle velocity (PAV) occurs at the same time than PHV. Methods A retrospective study of a cohort of girls with idiopathic scoliotic curves greater than 10o. Data of 132 girls who participated in a previous retrospective study about growth in AIS were used to calculate height and angle velocities. Relationship between height and angle velocities was estimated by th...

Scoliosis Journal have reported about the treatment of thoraco-lumbar curves in adolescent females affected by idiopathic Scoliosis with a progressive action short brace (PASB): assessment of results according to the SRS committee on bracing and nonoperative management standardization criteria. Authors: Angelo G. Aulisa, Vincenzo Guzzanti, Marco Galli, Carlo Perisano, Francesco Falciglia and Lorenzo Aulisa Published: 18 September 2009 Background The effectiveness of conservative treatment of scoliosis is controversial. Some studies suggest that brace is effective in stopping curve progression, whilst others did not report such an effect. The purpose of the present study was to effectiveness of Progressive Action Short Brace (PASB) in the correction of thoraco-lumbar curves, in agreement with the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) Committee on Bracing and Nonoperative Management Standardisation Criteria. Methods Fifty adolescent females (mean age 11.8 +/- 0.5 years) with thoraco-lumbar ...

ScoliosisJournal have reported on the effectiveness of complete conservative treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (bracing and exercises) based on SOSORT management criteria: results according to the SRS criteria for bracing studies - 2009 SOSORT Award Winner Authors: Stefano Negrini, Salvatore Atanasio, Claudia Fusco email and Fabio Zaina Published: 4 September 2009 Background The SRS criteria give the methodological reference framework for the presentation of bracing results, while the SOSORT criteria give the clinical reference framework for an appropriate bracing treatment. The two have not been combined in a study until now. Our aim was to verify the efficacy of a complete, conservative treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) according to the best methodological and management criteria defined in the literature. Methods Study Design. Retrospective study. Population. We included all AIS patients respecting the SRS inclusion criteria (age 10 years or older; Ris...

Braces and Plaster Casts Orthotic management of spinal disorders dates back at least to the Middle Ages. Some of the concepts underlying those primitive devices, notably three-point forces, remain valid today. Fabrication materials have progressed from metal and leather to light weight thermoplastics allowing many new designs and a new level of comfort for the patient. Braces help control the curve as you or your child grows. These braces are sometimes prescribed post surgery, along with plaster jackets. I had a plaster cast for 7 months after my Harrington Rod surgery. They are designed to protect the back while the tiny bone ships used for grafting fuse to form a solid bone mass. Unfortunately for me my bone chips have not all formed a solid mass and I now have terrible problems with my donor site. There are many different braces in use today, however, they all present similar problems in finding clothing that is both comfortable and trendy! The Milwaukee Brace Developed by Drs Al Sc...

Scoliosis Journal report on how to improve aesthetics in patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS): a SPoRT brace treatment according to SOSORT management criteria Authors: Fabio Zaina, Stefano Negrini, Claudia Fusco and Salvatore Atanasio Published: 1 September 2009 Background Aesthetics is a main goal of both conservative and surgical treatments in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Previously, we developed and validated a clinical scale - the Aesthetic Index (AI)--in order to measure aesthetic impairment and changes during treatment. Aim: To verify the efficacy of bracing on aesthetics in AIS. Study Design: Prospective Cohort Study. Population: Thirty-four consecutive patients, age 13.2+/-3.7, initial Cobb Angle 32+/-12degrees, ATR 10+/-4degrees Bunnel, 11 males. Methods Patients with AI scores of at least 5/6 were included. Each of them had a brace prescription (18 to 23 hours per day), according to the SPoRT concept. AI was measured again after six months and at th...

Scoliosis Journal recently reported the following article which talks about the long-term outcome after Boston brace treatment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Authors: Johan Emil Lange, Harald Steen and Jens Ivar Brox Published: 26 August 2009 Background Few studies have evaluated long-term outcome after bracing using validated quality of life outcome. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term outcome in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) 12 years or more after treatment with Boston brace. Methods 109 (80 %) of 135 patients (7 men) with AIS treated with Boston brace at a mean of 19.2 (12-28) years previously responded to long-term follow-up examination. All patients (n = 109) answered a standardised questionnaire including demographics, work status, treatment, Global Back Disability Question, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) (100-worst possible), General Function Score (GFS) (100 - worst possible), EuroQol (EQ-5D (1 - best possible), EQ-VAS (100 - best possible...