Effect of Chêneau style braces on vertebral wedging amongst individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
Nico Tournavitis, Tuğba Kuru Çolak, Constantinos Voutsas
PMID 34966856WHAT IT FOUND
In 27 girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, apical vertebral wedging decreased from 9.8° to 5.8° after Chêneau brace wear.
The study was retrospective and assessors were not blinded, so this is not proof that the brace caused the change.
Key findings
01In 27 female patients, apical vertebral wedging decreased from 9.8° before bracing to 5.8° after follow-up.
02Cobb angle decreased from 43.9° to 34.7°, and angle of trunk rotation decreased from 12.8° to 10.6° after the monitoring period.
03Reported brace wear averaged 16.9 hours per day, with a range from 8 to 22 hours.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study reviewed records from 27 girls and did not use blinded outcome assessors, so measurement bias is possible. All patients had the same single thoracic curve pattern, were girls aged 10 to 14, and had curves above 35°, so results may not apply to boys, lumbar curves, combined curves, or milder curves. The outcome was measured on anteroposterior X-rays, which show one plane only and not the full three-dimensional spinal shape. Brace wear time varied widely, averaging 16.9 hours per day with a range from 8 to 22 hours. The study compared only the same patients' first and last records, not different brace types.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that Chêneau bracing has been shown to reverse vertebral wedging in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The study was retrospective, assessors were not blinded, and wedging was measured from one plane of the spine, so the study does not show that the brace caused the change.