BIOMECHANICAL STUDY OF NEW TREATMENT APPROACHES FOR 3D ORTHOTIC CORRECTION OF SCOLIOSIS

Scoliosis is a complex deformity of the spine and rib cage often treat ed by the Boston brace. The goal of this research is to study the simu lation of two new treatment approaches and to compare their results to the Boston brace. A personalized biomechanical model has been used to simulate the treatment on 20 scoliotic teenagers with double curvatur e. On the first treatment, different forces were applied at the thorac ic apex level and the posterior displacement of the rib hump was locke d. For the second treatment, an oblique force oriented 45 degrees with respect to the frontal plane was added at the lumbar apex. Following each simulation, geometrical and clinical measurements were calculated and compared to the initial geometry and the Boston brace treatment. Overall, the two new treatment modalities correct the thoracic Cobb an gle in the frontal plane while maintaining the normal physiological cu rvatures in the sagittal plane, move the thoracic plane of maximum def ormity towards the sagittal plane and reduce axial rotation and rib hu mp. Tn comparison, the Boston brace reduces the Cobb angles in the fro ntal as well as in the sagittal planes, moves the planes of maximum de formities towards the coronal plane and has no effect on axial rotatio n and rib hump. This biomechanical study shows force patterns that cor rect scoliosis more efficiently than the Boston brace, These new treat ment approaches must be personalized for each patient and still requir e clinical evaluation.