NIGHTTIME BRACING FOR ADOLESCENT IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS WITH THE CHARLESTON BENDING BRACE - LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP

We report long-term experience with the Charleston Bending Brace for t reatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. This brace holds the pati ent in maximal side-bending correction and is worn at nighttime only. Patients included in this prospective multicenter study met all of the following criteria: skeletal immaturity (Risser 0, 1, or 2), curvatur e >25 degrees before bracing, no prior treatment, and >1-year follow-u p since completion of bracing (skeletal maturity or progression to sur gery). All curves were monitored and reported. There were 149 structur al curves in 98 patients. Sixty-five (66%) patients showed improvement or <5 degrees change in curvature. Seventeen (17%) patients progresse d to the point of requiring surgery for their scoliosis. Based on thes e long-term results and improvement of the natural history of adolesce nt idiopathic scoliosis, continued use of the Charleston Bending Brace is justified.