Serial CAD/CAM Bracing: An Alternative to Serial Casting for Early Onset Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Years of casting for infantile scoliosis can lead to significantly detrimental quality of life for both the child and parents. Concerns have been raised about the long-term negative neurodevelopmental effects of repeated anesthesia on young children. We developed an elongation bending derotation brace (EBDB) that uses primarily a bending derotation force applied to the curve to achieve the same goals as the cast. The goal of the study is to describe the preliminary results of a technique for creation of EBDB for infantile idiopathic scoliosis using computer-aided design/computer-aided milling (CAD/CAM) technology with at least 24 months follow-up.

METHODS: Nine patients with infantile idiopathic scoliosis had minimum 2-year follow-up (mean, 3.4 y; range, 2 to 6 y). Mean age at the treatment was 11 months (4 to 24 mo). There were 2 right thoracic, 7 left thoracic curves. CAD/CAM technology was used to create the EBDB after the child was placed in traction and a derotation strap applied. The same rotational forces that are used in the creation of the Mehta-type cast can also be utilized in creating the brace. A laser scanner was used to obtain the spinal geometry. Compliance can be monitored with a heat sensor.

RESULTS: Four patients were full corrected with serial bracing alone (curve ≤10 degrees). Five patients with more rigid curves showed improvement from mean 57 degrees (48 to 62 degrees) to mean 21 degrees (10 to 44 degrees).

CONCLUSIONS: This paper describes the preliminary results of a new methodology for creating a patient-specific brace for infantile scoliosis using CAD/CAM technology. This methods shows promising potential to treat the infantile curve without the drawbacks of casting.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.