Brace related stress in scoliosis patients – Comparison of different concepts of bracing

BACKGROUND The BSSQbrace questionnaire has been shown to be reliable with good internal consistency and reproducibility estimating the stress scoliosis patients have whilst wearing their brace. Eight questions are provided focussing on this topic. A max. score of 24 can be achieved (from 0 for most stress to 24 for no stress). The subdivision of the score values is: 0-8 (strong stress), 9-16 (medium stress) and 17-24 (little stress). STUDY DESIGN Two BSSQbrace questionnaires have been posted to 65 patients under brace treatment from our Cheneau light data base. All patients had another kind of brace prior to the Cheneau light. The patients have been asked to rate their stress level using one questionnaire for the current brace and the other for the previous one. RESULTS 63 Patients (59 girls and 4 boys) returned their fully completed questionnaires (average age 13,6 years, average Cobb angle 43,7 degrees). Stress level in the previous brace was 11,04 and in the Cheneau light(r) 13,87. The differences were highly significant in the t-test; t = -4,67; p < 0,001. CONCLUSION The use of the Cheneau light(R) brace leads to reduced stress and/or impairment for the patients under treatment compared to heavier brace models used so far.