ATLANTA —Lori A. Dolan, PhD, University of Iowa Healthcare,presented the latest findings from the Bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Trial (BrAIST) at the Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics Annual Meeting, here.
The study, which is being conducted by researchers at the University of Iowa, includes an examination of individual characteristics of orthoses in order to identify how these characteristics affect percentage correction, compliance and overall outcome.
“We thought it would be a good idea to have a blind independent review of bracing quality,” Dolan said. “So we are going to add these ratings to the model of treatment success, and the model of that success is curve characteristics, patient characteristics and treatment characteristics, which now will encourage some kind of indicator of bracing quality.”
Lori A. Dolan
Each device in the trial was blindly reviewed by an independent committee including at least two orthotists and two pediatric surgeons, who reviewed the orthotist’s reports and relevant radiographs. The device was given a score of satisfactory or unsatisfactory based on committee consensus.
To date, 85 devices from 18 institutions have been reviewed. Satisfactory customization process was given to 59% of the orthoses, and 61% received a satisfactory for immediate outcome. The average correction was 33%. According to Dolan, only a portion of the devices in the study have been reviewed, but there is a clear association between proper customization and immediate outcome.
“Evaluation of bracing effectiveness should account not only for patient characteristics and dose, but also for the process and outcome of individual braces,” Dolan said.
For more information:
Dolan LA. Evaluation of TLSOs in the bracing in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis trial (BrAIST). Presented at: Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics Annual Meeting. April 10-13, 2013. Atlanta.
