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Son Getting Fitted For Brace

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  • Son Getting Fitted For Brace

    I just want to know if there is anybody out there who has worn a brace with a curve that is 45 degree or higher that didn't have to have surgery? I just want to know if this really work for my son if he wears the brace 23 hours a day for so many years until he stops growing I guess. I really want this to work for him so he don't have to have surgery. He is scared of a needle so I know this is to much for him to handle. I know it depends on the person and how long they wear the brace. I have been reading e-mails about others who have wore the brace for years and then have surgery. Is there anybody out there who wore the brace and didn't have surgery. My son will be wearing the low profile brace. I know it won't be easy, but he said he wants to wear this brace, because he don't want to have surgery. So if there is anyone out there to e-mail if the brace really worked and they didn't have surgery. Thanks to all who have used this website, it is a wonderful website. I have found out a lot of information, but I need to learn so much more for my son.
    Mary Ann Latimer

  • #2
    brace with 45 degree curve

    hi,

    i was in the same situation as your son not to long ago. wearing abrace might and might not help your son. almost a year ago i was fitted for a brace with 44 and 55 degree curves. sadly it didn't work for me and i am getting surgery done. i wish you and your son lots of luck with the brace.
    ~*Lauren*~
    Braced for 5 months
    Decided on surgery with 65 and 54 degree curves
    Pre-op curve measurements were in the 70's and 80's
    Surgery on April 26th 2005
    Fused from T3-L4
    Post-op curve is 15 degrees

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    • #3
      Hi Mary Ann...

      Unfortunately 45 degrees is a grey area in terms of whether bracing is effective. I think that most of the studies I've read show that braces are effective up to 40 degrees, but it depends on the type and location of the curve(s). Also, I believe that treatment of boys with 40-50 degree curves is very different than it is for girls.

      Unfortunately, some kids have curves that are going to progress, despite the fact that they were prescribed the correct brace for their condition, and despite the fact that the child was completely compliant. Even if the brace doesn't allow the child to avoid surgery, it will hopefully at least allow less progression than no brace at all.

      There is no way that any of us can tell you what brace is appropriate. We're not medical professionals, and, even if we were, we don't have your son's x-rays in front of us. My advice would be to find a good scoliosis specialist whom you can trust, and then let the doctor prescribe the appropriate brace.

      Anyway, here's the abstract of a study that specifically addresses your concerns:

      Orthopade. 2000 Jun;29(6):500-6. Related Articles, Links

      [Criteria for treatment of idiopathic scoliosis between 40 degrees and 50 degrees. Surgical vs. conservative therapy]

      [Article in German]

      Hopf C.

      Abteilung Wirbelsaulenchirurgie, Kinder- und onkologische Orthopadie, Lubinus-Klinik Kiel.

      The treatment of idiopathic scoliosis over 40 degrees (Cobb) during the growth period is under discussion concerning the indication for conservative or surgical treatment. Curve progression depends on the degree of the frontal and sagittal deformity, vertebral rotation, rigidity of the curve, the skeletal age, the age and sex of the patient, the familial frequency of scoliosis and the location of the curve. In scoliosis over 40 degrees progression is fast and the possibilities for successful conservative brace treatment are reduced during the growth period. Progression occurs more frequently in thoracic and double major scolioses, especially in young patients (Risser sign 0 and 1). Predictive factors of a successful brace treatment are the correction of scoliosis and rotation; deterioration of both during the brace treatment leads to poor results. Evaluating the flexibility of the sagittal profile is important, as is primary correction of 30-50% in the brace during the 3 months. Operative correction of small primary curves reduces the fusion length, operation time, and blood loss and is followed by a reduction in loading on the adjacent vertebral segments in comparison to the long fusions necessary in more structural and double major scolioses. So far it is not possible to make an equivalent judgment of the frequency of the "crankshaft" phenomenon and the treatment necessary in young patients (Rissersign 0 and 1) treated by dorsal instrumentation alone, but temporary brace treatment may be considered in those cases.

      Regards,
      Linda
      Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
      Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

      Comment


      • #4
        Structural Integration for children

        Here is a link to an article on how scoliosis can be helped in children Scoliosis article reprint

        The guy in the article - David Davis of the Guild for Structural Integration in Boulder, CO - specializes in Scoliosis in Children and gives workshops all over the country. I have attended one of his workshops and communicate with him when I work with Children or adults with Scoliosis. My youngest was 7 and my oldest was 64. All have been helped in varying degrees.

        Structural Integration is also known as Rolfing which used to have a poor reputation for being somewhat painful. Over the years that has changed a lot and more gentle techniques are being used. Sometimes the work can resemble very gentle Craniosacral work. My 7 year old told his mother how much he liked Rolfing. He would come every time, remove his shirt and jump on the table. We always made it a little game. His before and after pictures are quite amazing. How much work he will have to continue to have over the next several years is unknown at this time.

        Let me know if I can be of further assistance. I can help you find a practitioner.
        Carol Orrell, MS, LMT
        Manual Therapy Solutions - offering Rolfing, Structural Integration, Craniosacral therapy and more

        Comment


        • #5
          i would think that surgery would be done with a curve at 45 degrees. Surgery is [supposed] to be done when a curve is at 40 degrees or higher. my curves are a little over 30 but not quite 40 degrees yeat and i'm on the borderline of needing surgery, but i'm close to the end of my growing (i'm 15 years old), so that's probably why they're considering surgery for me, but i won't know for sure for a few weeks. I wish you luck with you and your son Mary.



          Hugs to ya,
          Ginny


          P.s: how old is your son? i think the only time scoli surgery is done on a still growing child is if the curve is really severe.

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