Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Bracing adults with chronic low back pain secondary to severe scoliosis: six months results of a prospective pilot study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Spine Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Adult scoliosis is sometimes associated with back pain and severe curves can progress over time. Despite scoliosis has been estimated to affect up to 68% of the population over 60, there is scant literature about conservative treatment for adult scoliosis. Recently, we tested a new brace designed to alleviate pain for adult patients with chronic pain secondary to scoliosis. The study aims to test the efficacy of a prefabricated brace in reducing pain in adult scoliosis patients.

Methods

Twenty adults (age 67.8 ± 10.5, curve 61.9 ± 12.6° Cobb) with chronic low back pain (cLBP) secondary to Idiopathic Scoliosis (IS) were included. Patients were evaluated at baseline immediately before starting with the brace and after 6 months. Outcome measures were GRS, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland Morris Questionnaire (RM), COMI. The paired t test, ANOVA and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical analysis

Results

At six months, worst pain, leg pain and back pain were significantly improved: from 7.15 to 5.60, from 5.65 to 4.35 and from 6.55 to 5.25 (p < 0.05). Sixty-five percent of patients achieved the minimal clinically important difference of 2 points for worst pain and leg pain, 55% for back pain. RM and COMI improved (p < 0.05), no differences for ODI.

Conclusion

The prefabricated brace showed a significant improvement at 6 months of worst, leg and back pain in most patients in a group of adult women with IS and cLBP. The quality of life didn’t change in a clinically significant way even if the patients reported satisfaction with the treatment.

Trial registration number and date of registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02643290, December 31, 2015.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Negrini S, Donzelli S, Aulisa AG et al (2018) 2016 SOSORT guidelines: orthopaedic and rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis during growth. Scoli Spinal Disord 13:3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13013-017-0145-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Balagué F, Pellisé F (2016) Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and back pain. Scoli Spinal Disord 11:27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13013-016-0086-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Glassman SD, Berven S, Bridwell K et al (2005) Correlation of radiographic parameters and clinical symptoms in adult scoliosis. Spine 30:682–688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Lamartina C, Berjano P (2014) Classification of sagittal imbalance based on spinal alignment and compensatory mechanisms. Eur Spine J Off Publ Eur Spine Soc Eur Spinal Deform Soc Eur Sect Cerv Spine Res Soc 23:1177–1189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3227-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Obeid I, Berjano P, Lamartina C et al (2018) Classification of coronal imbalance in adult scoliosis and spine deformity: a treatment-oriented guideline. Eur Spine J Off Publ Eur Spine Soc Eur Spinal Deform Soc Eur Sect Cerv Spine Res Soc. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-018-5826-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Weinstein SL (1999) Natural history. Spine 24:2592–2600

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Marty-Poumarat C, Scattin L, Marpeau M et al (2007) Natural history of progressive adult scoliosis. Spine 32:1227–1234. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.brs.0000263328.89135.a6 (Discussion 1235)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Negrini S, Donzelli S, Aulisa AG et al (2018) 2016 SOSORT Guidelines: orthopaedic and rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis during growth. Scoli Spinal Disord. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13013-017-0145-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Donaldson S, Stephens D, Howard A et al (2007) Surgical decision making in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Spine 32:1526–1532. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0b013e318067dc75

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Acaroğlu RE, Dede Ö, Pellisé F et al (2016) Adult spinal deformity: a very heterogeneous population of patients with different needs. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc 50:57–62

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Schwab FJ, Blondel B, Bess S et al (2013) Radiographical spinopelvic parameters and disability in the setting of adult spinal deformity: a prospective multicenter analysis. Spine 38:E803-812. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0b013e318292b7b9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Monticone M, Ambrosini E, Cazzaniga D et al (2016) Adults with idiopathic scoliosis improve disability after motor and cognitive rehabilitation: results of a randomised controlled trial. Eur Spine J Off Publ Eur Spine Soc Eur Spinal Deform Soc Eur Sect Cerv Spine Res Soc. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4528-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Negrini A, Negrini MG, Donzelli S et al (2015) Scoliosis-Specific exercises can reduce the progression of severe curves in adult idiopathic scoliosis: a long-term cohort study. Scoliosis 10:20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13013-015-0044-9

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. de Mauroy JC, Lecante C, Barral F, Pourret S (2016) Bracing in adult with scoliosis: experience in diagnosis and classification from a 15 year prospective study of 739 patients. Scoli Spinal Disord 11:29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13013-016-0090-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Palazzo C, Montigny JP, Barbot F et al (2016) Effects of bracing in adult with scoliosis: a retrospective study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2016.05.019

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Gallo D (2014) Case reports: orthotic treatment of adult scoliosis patients with chronic back pain. Scoliosis 9:18. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-7161-9-18

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Zaina F, Poggio M, Donzelli S, Negrini S (2018) Can bracing help adults with chronic back pain and scoliosis? Short-term results from a pilot study. Prosthet Orthot Int. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309364618757769

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Ferreira-Valente MA, Pais-Ribeiro JL, Jensen MP (2011) Validity of four pain intensity rating scales. Pain 152:2399–2404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2011.07.005

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Chapman JR, Norvell DC, Hermsmeyer JT et al (2011) Evaluating common outcomes for measuring treatment success for chronic low back pain. Spine 36:S54-68. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0b013e31822ef74d

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Mannion AF, Boneschi M, Teli M et al (2012) Reliability and validity of the cross-culturally adapted Italian version of the core outcome measures index. Eur Spine J Off Publ Eur Spine Soc Eur Spinal Deform Soc Eur Sect Cerv Spine Res Soc 21(Suppl 6):S737-749. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-011-1741-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Fairbank JC, Couper J, Davies JB, O’Brien JP (1980) The Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire. Physiotherapy 66:271–273

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Zaina F, Atanasio S, Negrini S (2008) Clinical evaluation of scoliosis during growth: description and reliability. Stud Health Technol Inform 135:125–138

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Romano M, Negrini A, Parzini S et al (2015) SEAS (Scientific Exercises Approach to Scoliosis): a modern and effective evidence based approach to physiotherapic specific scoliosis exercises. Scoliosis 10:3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13013-014-0027-2

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Papadopoulos D (2013) Adult scoliosis treatment combining brace and exercises. Scoliosis 8:O8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-7161-8-S2-O8

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. de Mauroy JC, Lecante C, Barral F, Pourret S (2016) Prospective study of 158 adult scoliosis treated by a bivalve polyethylene overlapping brace and reviewed at least 5 years after brace fitting. Scoli Spinal Disord 11:28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13013-016-0091-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The study was financed by Aspen Medical Products.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ISICO (Italian Scientific Spine Institute), Milan, Italy

    F. Zaina, M. Poggio, F. Di Felice & S. Donzelli

  2. Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan La Statale, Milan, Italy

    S. Negrini

  3. IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy

    S. Negrini

Authors
  1. F. Zaina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Poggio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Di Felice
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Donzelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. Negrini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Zaina.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Stefano Negrini holds ISICO stocks.

Ethical approval

The study respected the principles of the Helsinki Declaration and was approved by the local ethics committee. Comitato Etico Milano Area B parere 156_2015bis.

Consent to participate

All patients signed a written informed consent.

Consent for publication

All patients gave informed consent for publication.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zaina, F., Poggio, M., Di Felice, F. et al. Bracing adults with chronic low back pain secondary to severe scoliosis: six months results of a prospective pilot study. Eur Spine J 30, 2962–2966 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-021-06808-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-021-06808-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation