Prediction of curve progression for AIS patients treated with a TLSO Brace

Abstract

Method Twenty subjects (17 females, 3 males), aged 13.4 ± 1.8 years, were prescribed a full-time TLSO (22 hr/day) and were monitored and followed for 3 years. All subjects met the SRS Brace Study inclusion criteria. The brace usage in terms of quantity (percent of wear time relative to the prescribed wear) and quality (percent of wear tightness relative to the prescribed tightness level) was logged with a compliance monitoring system. The Peterson's risk of progression at the time when the brace was prescribed was calculated based on 4 variables: Risser sign, apex of the curve, age, and imbalance. In-brace curve correction (flexibility) was calculated using the following: (Initial Cobb in-brace Cobb)/Initial Cobb. A predictive model for curve progression using regression was developed based on the Peterson's risk of progression, quantity, quality, and the percentage of in-brace correction. Data from six new subjects who used a monitoring system and were followed for 2 years after bracing was used to assess the validity of the model.