Follow-up of brace-treated scoliosis in children with cerebral palsy and spina bifida.

Purpose: This study aimed to describe brace use, progression of scoliosis, and surgery in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and spina bifida (SB) who were initially treated with a brace.

Methods: Medical records were retrospectively analysed for brace compliance, treatment complications, curve size measurements with and without the brace at both start and at follow-up, and number of patients undergoing spine surgery.

Results: Sixty-eight children were included (CP 47, SB 21), 37 of whom were girls, with a mean age at start of treatment of 11.1 (CP) and 8.2 (SB) years. Most had severe motor problems; only four children with CP and five with SB were able to walk. Thirty-five in the group with CP and 11 in the group with SB had a curve size over 40°.Forty used the brace full-time, 19 half-time and nine for a varying proportion of time. Transient complications of brace treatment were seen in 28%. The yearly progression of curve-size was 4.2° in CP and 2.3° in SB.Twenty-eight patients underwent surgery and complications were present in 75% of these patients. Twenty-seven out of 46 patients with severe scoliosis did not undergo surgery.

Conclusion: Brace treatment was possible, even in patients with severe scoliosis. Bracing can delay the progression of scoliosis.