OK, so we went to see our “local” doctor. I mentioned him in another thread, he’s not really local but a lot closer than Montreal. He’s an SRS member and participates in the BrAIST trial.
My daughters curve was 38 degrees when first diagnosed in November. Dr. Rivard said it was 38 in January during our initial out-of-brace x-ray. My daughter wore the SpineCor for almost 3 months until we became disillusioned with it.
We went in today because we were considering the Providence Brace and the doctor wanted to get out-of-brace xrays and another hand xray to assess skeletal age.
Well, long story short, she was measured today as 34 degrees! We were NOT expecting THAT.
That Cobb measurement was very encouraging. Equally encouraging was the progression of her skeletal age as assessed from the hand x-ray (indicates she is well past PHV and almost done growing – regardless of her Risser 0 - she is 14 and 1 year post menarche). The reduction/difference in Cobb angle is likely related to things discussed in the “Margin of error” thread. To me, it suggests her curve is not progressing which makes me question the logic of bracing her. Indeed, look for CD over at the “watching and waiting” forum because we are not going to put her back in a brace.
I see now why this BrAIST trial is going on and why they are using 50 degrees as an end point. Had my daughter come in after 2 years of bracing and been measured as 34 degrees we would have been singing the praises of the SpineCor (or whatever brace). I personally doubt the reduction can be attributed to wearing the brace for the 3 months, but who knows. It is just as likely due to the candle I lit at St Josephs Oratory
My daughters curve was 38 degrees when first diagnosed in November. Dr. Rivard said it was 38 in January during our initial out-of-brace x-ray. My daughter wore the SpineCor for almost 3 months until we became disillusioned with it.
We went in today because we were considering the Providence Brace and the doctor wanted to get out-of-brace xrays and another hand xray to assess skeletal age.
Well, long story short, she was measured today as 34 degrees! We were NOT expecting THAT.
That Cobb measurement was very encouraging. Equally encouraging was the progression of her skeletal age as assessed from the hand x-ray (indicates she is well past PHV and almost done growing – regardless of her Risser 0 - she is 14 and 1 year post menarche). The reduction/difference in Cobb angle is likely related to things discussed in the “Margin of error” thread. To me, it suggests her curve is not progressing which makes me question the logic of bracing her. Indeed, look for CD over at the “watching and waiting” forum because we are not going to put her back in a brace.
I see now why this BrAIST trial is going on and why they are using 50 degrees as an end point. Had my daughter come in after 2 years of bracing and been measured as 34 degrees we would have been singing the praises of the SpineCor (or whatever brace). I personally doubt the reduction can be attributed to wearing the brace for the 3 months, but who knows. It is just as likely due to the candle I lit at St Josephs Oratory
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