Our multidisciplinary teams all have extensive experience in the treatment and management of scoliosis and spinal deformities in both adults and children. Whilst our treatment policy is one of first line conservative (non-surgical treatment) surgical options will be advised when appropriate. Patients can attend any of our clinics in the safe knowledge that they will be fully assessed and only offered appropriate treatment with clearly advised objectives and prognoses.
Healthcare UK, Scoliosis Clinics offer advice on all aspects of scoliosis treatment including physiotherapy, bracing and surgery.
Non-Surgical Treatments Children:
Bracing:
The scoliosis research society recommends bracing in growing patients for idiopathic scoliosis when the curve is greater than 25 degrees. With bracing treatment being considered an effective treatment in curves up to 40 degrees and possible in curves up to 50 degrees in certain cases. Surgery is generally needs to be considered in curves greater than 50 degrees.
There are many different forms of bracing, but most forms are using a hard plastic shell that has pads in it to force the spine into different positions. Historically it has always been believed that forcing the spine as straight as possible within a brace during the growth phase would prevent progression, whilst in some cases this is true it is an oversimplification of the problem. Today we understand that scoliosis affects the entire neuromuscular skeletal system and that preservation of movement during growth should be an important part of any rehabilitation treatment.
The SpineCor® Dynamic Corrective Brace. Is the first and only truly dynamic brace, that can potentially provide corrections in Idiopathic Scoliosis patients with curves from 15°Cobb angle up to 50°.
It preserves normal body movement and growth and allows normal activities of daily living.
It is worn comfortably and easily under clothing, which increases patient’s treatment acceptance leading to better compliance and ultimately treatment results.
Study results published in the Journal of Paediatric Orthopaedics 2007 following the Scoliosis Research Society guidelines on bracing studies showed that SpineCor was 76% effective in preventing surgery, 71% more effective than the Boston Brace. It was also shown that SpineCor was 4 times more effective in correcting or stabilising scoliosis than the widely used Boston/TLSO brace.
The SpineCor® brace relies upon a completely different principle to that of rigid bracing. Rather than using huge forces to straighten and immobilze the spine, SpineCor® uses a series of soft elastic bands to progressively reverse the patient's abnormal posture (corrective movement) which intern straightens the spine.
Unlike rigid bracing, that can weaken muscles and stiffen the spine, the SpineCor® Brace allows movement, keeps the spine flexible, and actually strengthens the supporting muscles of the spine.
SpineCor is generally not recommended in cases where there is a definite neuromuscular cause to the scoliosis.
Non-Surgical Treatments Adult:
Following the success of the SpineCor® brace in treating scoliotic progression in children an number of doctors considered using the brace to prevent degenerative progression and manage pain in adults. After successful trials using the original paediatric brace on adults in early 2005 an adult version of the brace was developed and trailed. Subsequently this development gave rise to the SpineCor® Pain relief Back Brace. This brace provides postural rehabilitation to change spinal shape and loadings in adults with the principle objective of pain relief but also can in certain cases also significantly improve the posture and has the potential to reduce degenerative progression as a result.
Clinical studies during 2 year development of the adult brace involving more than 200 patient’s demonstrated 70% pain relief in 90% of patients.
The brace is typically worn initially 8 – 16 hours per day in order to initiate postural changes.
After several months of wear it is often possible to reduce the wearing time and maintain the same pain relief effect.
Physioherapy:
Physiotherapy is used extensively in adults with back pain. However for adults with back pain originating from a scoliosis Physiotherapy alone may not control their pain or slow the progression of a degenerative scoliosis. In most adult scoliosis cases physiotherapy is recommended in conjunction with bracing but may also be used post- bracing in order to maintain the improvements made during the bracing period of treatment.
Surgical Treatments:
Although non-surgical treatments are our first line approach, in some cases it may be too late or the spinal deformity too severe for non-surgical treatment. All cases accepted to our scoliosis clinics are reviewed by a consultant orthopaedic spinal surgeon to establish and agree the most appropriate treatment plan with the patient and other members of the multidisciplinary team. When there is no realistic non-surgical treatment option surgery may be recommended, this may be offered via your consulting surgeon or a referral made to another spinal surgeon with expertise in treating the particular spinal deformity.
