Curve progression after treatment with the Wilmington brace for idiopathic scoliosis.

Abstract

We evaluated curve progression after completion of Wilmington brace treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in 67 patients. Follow-up ranged from 5 to 13 years. Pretreatment curve magnitudes ranged from 20 to 39 degrees, with a Risser sign of 0 or 1. Sixteen patients (21%) experienced 5-16 degrees of curve progression after brace treatment was discontinued. For nine of these patients, the final curve magnitude was within 5 degrees of the pretreatment Cobb angle, reflecting a loss of correction achieved during brace treatment. The remaining seven patients had final curve magnitudes measuring 8-32 degrees greater than the pretreatment Cobb angle.