Long-Term Follow-up of Female Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis Treated with the Wilmington Orthosis

• Published in: Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2004-09, Vol.86 (9), p.1891-1899
• Main Authors: Gabos, Peter G, Bojescul, John A, Bowen, J Richard, Keeler, Kathryn, Rich, Lillian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Disease Progression; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Diseases of the spine; Equipment Design; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Medical sciences; Orthotic Devices; Retrospective Studies; Scoliosis - therapy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0021-9355; 1535-1386
• DOI: 10.2106/00004623-200409000-00006

BackgroundA spinal orthosis is commonly utilized in the nonoperative treatment of idiopathic scoliosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term radiographic and functional outcomes of female patients with idiopathic scoliosis who had completed a program of treatment with the Wilmington thoracic-lumbar spinal orthosis.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and radiographs of all female patients who had successfully completed a course of treatment with the orthosis between 1973 and 1983. Ninety-one patients met the criteria for inclusion, and fifty-five women returned for a follow-up evaluation. Their mean age was thirty-one years at the time of follow-up, which was carried out at a mean of 14.6 years after the completion of treatment. The patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically, and they each completed a comprehensive questionnaire assessing their ability to perform twenty-six activities of daily living, their overall physical appearance, the cosmetic appearance of the back, their self-image, and the severity of any back pain. The questionnaire was also administered to a control group of fifty-five women without scoliosis matched for age, number of children, and occupation.ResultsSeven patients (13%) demonstrated ≥5° of progression of the curve, compared with the curve at the start of treatment, after discontinuing use of the orthosis. No curve progressed >17° compared with the deformity at the time of the initial treatment. There was no significant overall difference between the orthotic treatment group and the control group in terms of back pain, physical activities, functional activities (with the exception of shopping) or self-care activities. As a group, the patients reported significantly greater difficulty with selected positional activities (p = 0.007). Fifty-one (93%) of the fifty-five treated women reported no subjective deterioration in their physical appearance, the cosmetic appearance of the back, or their self-image in the period since they discontinued using the brace.ConclusionsThe majority of patients who successfully complete treatment with a Wilmington thoracic-lumbar spinal orthosis for idiopathic scoliosis with an initial magnitude of between 20° and 45° can anticipate that the curve will remain stable into middle adulthood. Any apparent correction of the curve that occurs during treatment can be expected to be lost over time, resulting in a deformity that is equal or nearly equal in magn