The SPoRT concept of bracing for idiopathic scoliosis.

The SPoRT (acronym: Symmetrical, Patient-oriented, Rigid, Three-dimensional, active) concept of bracing is a new way to build braces based on our 20 years of experience and the biomechanical principles of scoliosis correction, inclusive of the Sibilla and Sforzesco braces. The concept always requires a custom brace, which is made according to the patient's individual requirements. New technologies such as CAD-CAM can be applied, and often for better results, without the customary use of prebuilt forms whose measurements are stored in databases.

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 - SOSORT Award 2009 Winner.

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.

How to improve aesthetics in patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS): a SPoRT brace treatment according to SOSORT management criteria.

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.

Specific exercises performed in the period of brace weaning can avoid loss of correction in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) patients: Winner of SOSORT's 2008 Award for Best Clinical Paper.

Background: Exercises are frequently performed in order to improve the efficacy of bracing and avoid its collateral effects. Very frequently there is a loss of correction during brace weaning in AIS treatment.

Aim: To verify the efficacy of exercises in reducing correction loss during brace weaning.

TRACE (Trunk Aesthetic Clinical Evaluation), a routine clinical tool to evaluate aesthetics in scoliosis patients: development from the Aesthetic Index (AI) and repeatability.

Background: Aesthetic appearance is of primary importance in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), but to date tools for routine clinical practice have not become available. The aim of the present study is to develop such a tool and to verify its repeatability.

Instrumentation: At first we developed the Aesthetic Index (AI), based on a three-point scale for asymmetry of the shoulders, scapulae and waist that we tested for 5 years.

Adult scoliosis can be reduced through specific SEAS exercises: a case report.

Background: It has been known since many years that scoliosis can continue to progress after skeletal maturity: the rate of progression has shown to be linear, and it can be used to establish an individual prognosis. Once there is progression there is an indication for treatment: usually it is proposed a surgical one. There are very few papers on an alternative rehabilitation approach; since many years we propose specific SEAS exercises and the aim of this study is to present one case report on this approach.

The Sforzesco brace can replace cast in the correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A controlled prospective cohort study.

Background: The conservative treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has traditionally been divided into two phases-correction and stabilisation-and casts, even if less used today, can be considered the best standard in the correction phase. Till the present, however, no comparison between cast and brace efficacy has been proposed.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study with a retrospective control group.

The Sforzesco brace and SPoRT concept: a brace to replace cast in worst curves.

Purpose: Bracing still remains the most important conservative treatment for scoliosis; approaches to bracing are really many and diverse. The aim of this paper of this paper, is the presentation of the brace we recently developed (the Sforzesco brace and SPoRT concept) to face worst scoliosis, in the past treated through casting.

Methods: The SPoRT concept was born while we were looking for a new brace; it means Symmetric, Patient oriented, Rigid, Three-dimensional and Active.

End-growth results of bracing and exercises for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Prospective worst-case analysis.

Background: In the literature the rate of surgery for AIS (Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis) of 30 degrees ranges from 22.4% to 31% when braces are used, versus the natural history rate of 28.1%.

The SPoRT (Symmetric, Patient-oriented, Rigid, Three-dimensional, active) concept for scoliosis bracing: principles and results.

The biomechanical action of an orthesis for the conservative treatment of AIS has two goals: correction and stabilization. These goals have been pursued through very well established principles of correction, developed over the years, divided in terms of efficacy (the correct positioning of pushes, as well as through escape ways and proper drivers of the forces and stops) and acceptability (compliance, perfect body design, maximal freedom in the ADL). To achieve all these goals, the Sforzesco brace has been developed through progressive changes and verification.

3-DEMO classification of scoliosis: a useful understanding of the 3(rd) dimension of the deformity.

The third-dimension of scoliosis represent a great challenge for clinicians used to think in two dimensions due to the classical radiographic representation of the deformity. This caused problems in everyday clinical approaches, and led to the development of new bidimensional classifications (King, Lenke) who tried in different ways to face these problems, mainly in a surgical perspective. Recently, some three-dimensional classifications have been proposed, all developed in laboratory by bioengineers.

Clinical evaluation of scoliosis during growth: description and reliability.

Unlabelled: The clinical evaluation, even today, remains a central point in the diagnosis, prognostic definition and treatment prescription regarding scoliosis. The clinical evaluation of a scoliotic patient has been established for a long time, but it has not been standardized. The aim of the present work is to report the most common clinical measures for the assessment of scoliosis, explain the usefulness of each clinical measurement, and report the repeatability and limits in order to help the physician in making appropriate clinical choices.

Three-dimensional easy morphological (3-DEMO) classification of scoliosis, part I.

Background: While scoliosis has, for a long time, been defined as a three-dimensional (3D) deformity, morphological classifications are confined to the two dimensions of radiographic assessments. The actually existing 3-D classification proposals have been developed in research laboratories and appear difficult to be understood by clinicians.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to use the results of a 3D evaluation to obtain a simple and clinically oriented morphological classification (3-DEMO) that might make it possible to distinguish among different populations of scoliotic patients.