Retrospective analysis of immediate in-brace correction of scoliosis attainable in patients with AIS: a SOSORT initiative

Background The effectiveness of bracing in AIS has been debated for years, and there are few studies that can provide a clear picture of how a brace influences curve magnitude, rate of progression, or reduction in surgery. A 2007 review article found no clear advantage to bracing, over observation, in reducing the need for surgery [1]. However, the article highlighted the lack of uniformity in the studies it reviewed, and the high variability in the outcomes that it pooled. A 2010 Cochrane Systematic Review also found that there was only low-quality evidence in favor of using braces [2]. One must first be able to distinguish effective from ineffective bracing, as there is no reason to evaluate the outcome of ineffective braces. A standard must be set as to the amount of immediate curve correction that a brace should deliver, before any brace treatment is labeled as effective or ineffective. Other authors have outlined the appropriate criteria for evaluating brace effectiveness, but have not included immediate in-brace correction of the curve in their list of outcome measures [3]. This study was developed as a SOSORT board initiative, and will attempt to develop that standard.