Use and Cost of Orthosis in Conservative Treatment of Acute Thoracolumbar Fractures: A Survey of European and North American Experts

• Published in: Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976) Pa. 1976), 2021-05, Vol.46 (9), p.E534-E541
• Main Authors: Linhares, Daniela, Sousa-Pinto, Bernardo, Ribeiro da Silva, Mnuel, Fonseca, João A., Neves, Nuno
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0362-2436; 1528-1159
• DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000003769

STUDY DESIGN.Survey study OBJECTIVE.Assess practices and opinions of spine specialists from Europe and North America on orthosis use in adult patients with acute TL fractures. Evaluate cost of the devices. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.Although orthosis are traditionally used in conservative treatment of thoracolumbar fractures, recent systematic reviews showed no benefit in patientʼs outcomes. METHODS.A search for contact authors with publications on spine fractures from all European and North American countries was performed. An online questionnaire was sent on demographic data, practice setting, mean number of fractures treated, use of orthosis upon choice for conservative treatment and average orthosis cost. Data was analysed based in world regions, economic rank of the country and health expenditure. RESULTS.We received 130 answers, from 28 European and 5 North American countries. Most responders had more than 9 years of practice and worked at a public hospital. 6.2% did not prescribe a brace in any patient with acute thoracolumbar fractures conservatively treated and 11.5% brace all patients. In a scale from 1 to 5, 21 considered that there is no/low benefit (1) and 14 that bracing is essential (5), with a mean of 3.18. Europeans use orthosis less commonly than North Americans (p