Effect of Preoperative SpineCor(®) Treatment on Surgical Outcome in Idiopathic Scoliosis: An Observational Study

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine. We investigated the effect of preoperative treatment with SpineCor(®) dynamic brace on the efficiency of surgical correction from a posterior approach in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. MATERIAL/METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study. Participants were 53 girls who underwent surgery from posterior approach due to idiopathic adolescent scoliosis, divided into a study group (Group A, 27 girls) and a control group (Group B, 26 girls). Girls in the study group had previously undergone treatment with the SpineCor(®) brace. Outcome measures were amount of correction and coronal balance based on anteroposterior plain radiographs obtained prior to surgery, at 1 week after surgery, and at 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: In both groups, satisfactory deformity correction was achieved after surgery (Group A, 73%±12 vs. Group B, 68%±16) and at 12-month follow-up (75%±12 vs. 68%±12, respectively), with no statistically significant differences identified. Directly after surgery, patients preoperatively treated with the SpineCor(®) brace displayed smaller coronal balance deviation compared with the preoperative measurement, with significant differences in the outcome achieved at 1 week after surgery in Group B. At 12-month follow-up, both groups had significant coronal balance improvement. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study assessing the effect of dynamic brace treatment on scoliosis surgery. The study shows that a history of preoperative treatment with the SpineCor(®) dynamic brace does not affect the amount of the achieved correction of AIS directly after surgery or at 12-month follow-up, but it does facilitate faster restoration of normal coronal balance.