Treatment of idiopathic scoliosis with side-shift therapy: an initial comparison with a brace treatment historical cohort

A group of 44 patients with idiopathic scoliosis (mean age 13.6 years) with an initial Cobb angle between 20 degrees and 32 degrees received side-shif t therapy (mean-treatment duration 2.2 years). A group of 120 brace patient s (mean age 13.6 years) with an initial Cobb angle in the same range (mean brace treatment 3.0 years) was the historical reference group. Failure was defined as an increase of Cobb angle greater than 5 degrees within 4 months or a Cobb angle greater than 35 degrees or a total increase of Cobb angle greater than 10 degrees. The chance of success was not significantly differ ent between the side-shift and the brace groups, whether tested for efficie ncy (66% vs 68%) or efficacy (85% vs 90%). The difference in the mean progr ession of the Cobb angle for the respective groups is small (for efficiency : 3 degrees vs -2 degrees, for efficacy: 2 degrees vs -1 degrees). Side-shi ft therapy appears to be a promising additional treatment for idiopathic sc oliosis in adolescents with an inital Cobb angle between 20 degrees and 32 degrees.