http://drlloydhey.blogspot.com/2012/08/yesterdays-adolescent-idiopathic.html
This does not seem like the exception any more. When most kids who are treated "successfully" with bracing are in the range of 30* to <50** at skeletal maturity, and anything >30* is not thought to be protective against future progression, then that would account for why Dr. Hey sees "countless cases" of progression in folks who are subsurgical at maturity. We may not need BrAIST to conclude certain realities about the efficacy of bracing. The clinics might already have the data.
This paradigm seems to need revisiting.
I shared with him that the curve could remain stable, but due to the asymmetric loading of his lower lumbar discs, that there was a possibility that the lower curve could collapse, and lead to a painful degenerative scoliosis that could even result in spinal stenosis. I've seen countless cases of patients in their late 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's and beyond who were told their curve was "stable" and they were "done growing" as a teenager finishing off treatment for adolescent scoliosis, only to find out a few or many years later that the curve had begun to progress again. Logan is extremely bright, and seemed to get the long-term choice he faced, given the possibility of realigning his spine now when he is younger, and possibly be able to save the bottom 2 or 3 discs for a lifetime, while also enjoying a better posture.
This paradigm seems to need revisiting.
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