2011 SOSORT guidelines: Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis during growth.

Background: The International Scientific Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT), that produced its first Guidelines in 2005, felt the need to revise them and increase their scientific quality. The aim is to offer to all professionals and their patients an evidence-based updated review of the actual evidence on conservative treatment of idiopathic scoliosis (CTIS).

Methods: All types of professionals (specialty physicians, and allied health professionals) engaged in CTIS have been involved together with a methodologist and a patient representative.

SpineCor treatment for Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis: SOSORT award 2010 winner.

Introduction: Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis is a condition used to describe patients who are least 4 years of age but younger than 10 when the deformity is first identified. In these patients, the condition is usually progressive and those that are diagnosed at five years or younger have a high chance of progression to a large curve, with additional pulmonary and cardiac complications. The main form of conservative treatment for juvenile scoliosis is the use of a bracing system.

Postural imbalance in non-treated adolescent idiopathic scoliosis at different periods of progression.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that imbalance in patients with a severe deformity of the spine is associated with an increase in the sensory integration disorder. This paper is a case comparison study. Patients were divided into three groups: able-bodied (n = 53), observation (n = 23), and pre-brace (n = 26) groups.

Influence of orthopedic implant structure on adjacent bone density and on stability.

We evaluated the ability of a porous metallic interbody fusion implant made with porous nitinol (PNT) to achieve intervertebral fusion and the capacity of stabilization at the implantation site 3, 6, and 12 months after implantation. Sixteen sheep each received 1 PNT implant and 1 titanium (TiAIV) cage at intervertebral lumbar levels L2-L3 and L4-L5; 3 other sheep were used as untreated controls. The TiAIV cage was used as a control implant.

A new concept for the non-invasive treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: the Corrective Movement principle integrated in the SpineCor System.

Purpose: To evaluate the change in spinal curvature and posture of Idiopathic Scoliosis patients when a curve specific 'Corrective Movement Principle' (CMP) is applied.

Methods: This prospective interventional study was carried out on a group of 639 patients (92.3% females) having idiopathic scoliosis treated with the SpineCor brace.

Treatment of early adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using the SpineCor System.

The purpose of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Dynamic SpineCor System for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in accordance with the standardized outcome criteria proposed by the Scoliosis Research Society Committee on Bracing and Nonoperative Management. The SpineCor System is the first and only truly dynamic brace, which provides a progressive correction of Idiopathic Scoliosis from 15 degrees Cobb angle and above. The new therapeutic approach is based on a new concept upon the etiology and pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis; a pathology of the neuro-musculoskeletal system in growth and maturation.

Postural characteristics of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: The objectives of this study were to compare the postural characteristics of idiopathic scoliosis (IS) patients with different types of spinal curvature and to compare a motion capture and a sequential digitization technique to estimate the postural characteristics of the IS patients.

Methods: A total of 57 IS patients underwent a radiological, clinical, and postural geometric evaluations in an upright standing position as part of their regular follow-up. The posteroanterior radiograph of the trunk was used to measure the amplitude of spinal curvature.

Estimation of the centre of mass for the study of postural control in Idiopathic Scoliosis patients: a comparison of two techniques.

The objective of the present study is to quantify the position of the Centre of Mass (COM) during quiet standing using a force plate and compare this technique to the quantification of the COM with an anthropometric model. The postural control of 18 healthy adolescents and 22 IS patients was evaluated using an Optotrak 3D kinematic system, and two AMTI force plates during quiet standing. The position of anatomical landmarks tracked by the Optotrak system served to estimate the position of the COM of both groups using an anthropometric model (COM(anth)).

Effectiveness of the SpineCor brace based on the new standardized criteria proposed by the scoliosis research society for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

The purpose of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Dynamic SpineCor brace for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in accordance with the standardized criteria proposed by the Scoliosis Research Society Committee on Bracing and Nonoperative Management. They proposed these guidelines to make the comparison among studies more valid and reliable. From 1993 to 2006, 493 patients were treated using the SpineCor brace.

The spinal cord dura mater reaction to nitinol and titanium alloy particles: a 1-year study in rabbits.

This investigation was undertaken to simulate in an animal model the particles released from a porous nitinol interbody fusion device and to evaluate its consequences on the dura mater, spinal cord and nerve roots, lymph nodes (abdominal para-aortic), and organs (kidneys, spleen, pancreas, liver, and lungs). Our objective was to evaluate the compatibility of the nitinol particles with the dura mater in comparison with titanium alloy. In spite of the great use of metallic devices in spine surgery, the proximity of the spinal cord to the devices raised concerns about the effect of the metal debris that might be released onto the neural tissue.

Evaluation of segmental postural characteristics during quiet standing in control and Idiopathic Scoliosis patients.

Background: The complex skeletal deformations that accompany Idioapthic Scoliosis pose a challenge to the clinician to non-invasively discriminate Idiopathic Scoliosis patients from children with no pathology. Therefore, the focus of this study is to non-invasively evaluate the position and amplitude of displacement of the pelvis, shoulders and thorax during quiet standing of Idiopathic Scoliosis patients and control subjects.

Methods: The quiet standing posture of 18 healthy adolescent females and 22 Idiopathic Scoliosis subjects was evaluated using an Optotrak 3020 position sensor over a period of 120 s, with 4 repeat trials.

SpineCor--a non-rigid brace for the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis: post-treatment results.

The objective of this study was to assess the success of treatment during the follow-up of a group of 195 idiopathic scoliosis (IS) patients consecutively treated with the SpineCor system. A survival analysis was performed to estimate the cumulative probability of success during treatment, at follow-up and for the combined treatment and follow-up period. Success was defined as either a correction or stabilization of +/-5 degrees or more, and failure as a worsening of more than 5 degrees.

A new porous titanium-nickel alloy: part 2. Sensitization, irritation and acute systemic toxicity evaluation.

Porous titanium-nickel (PTN) represents a new biomaterial with orthopedic applications as a long-term implant. Because of its nickel content, PTN was tested for its potential to stimulate sensitization, irritation, and systemic toxicity reactions after semi-physiological extraction. In order to do so, an in vivo biocompatibility evaluation was performed following three ISO-standardized methods using accepted animal models for immunity testing: the classical skin sensitization assay (Buehler patch test) in guinea pigs, the rabbit intracutaneous test, and the systemic injection test in mice.

Porous titanium-nickel for intervertebral fusion in a sheep model: part 1. Histomorphometric and radiological analysis.

Porous titanium-nickel (PTN) implants represent an alternative to traditional intervertebral fusion cages. Indeed, PTN materials possess interconnecting pores with cell capillarity properties that may promote bone ingrowth and intervertebral fusion without the need for bone grafting. In this study, a PTN intervertebral fusion device was compared to a conventional TiAlV cage packed with autologous bone in a sheep model.

A new porous titanium-nickel alloy: Part 1. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity evaluation.

Porous titanium-nickel (PTN) alloys represent new biomaterials for long-term implantation. Their porosity properties might confer them the capacity to trigger fluid capillarity, tissue ingrowth, as well as good tissue-implant apposition and fixation. Before PTN materials are used as long-term implants, their biocompatibility level must be assessed.

In vivo biocompatibility testing of peek polymer for a spinal implant system: a study in rabbits.

We are developing a new spinal implant system (SIS) without fusion (bone graft). This SIS is made from two materials, metal and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymer. The Food and Drug Administration recommended testing in vivo, in an animal model, whether the PEEK polymer could be used in a SIS without any harm of wear debris to the nervous tissue (spinal cord and nerve roots).

Estimated kyphosis and lordosis changes at follow-up in patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

The objective of this study was to verify the accuracy of surface measurements to estimate the magnitude of sagittal curvature changes at follow-up. Ninety-seven patients with idiopathic scoliosis were evaluated at two different visits (interval: 15.7 months).