CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT OF SCOLIOSIS - A NEW TECHNIQUE USING A FAST NON CONTACT 3D SCANNER AND A CAD SOFTWARE

The authors present a new procedure for acquiring the whole external t runk shape. The construction of braces starts with corrected a positiv e mold using computer-assisted design software connected to a digital tooling machine. The computer-assisted design and construction of brac es enable the determination, measurement, and modification of a three- dimensional image of the trunk, which allows the positive to be correc ted. The outer-trunk can be re-balanced, derotated or rectified in the sagittal or frontal plane and the inner modeling of the spine and che st can be rectified. Moreover, in the case of scoliosis or kyphosis, t he software produces automatic correction. This rapid (acquisition tim e < 2 seconds), non invasive, safe and painless procedure can also be used to detect and follow mild spinal deformities.