Does rigid spinal orthosis carry more psychosocial implications than the flexible brace in AIS patients? A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: A small body of data exists concerning psychosocial issues in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) subjected to soft braces. No study was yet performed on the detailed psychosocial implications in AIS patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the psychosocial implications of the flexible SpineCor with the Cheneau orthosis in AIS females.

METHODS: Patients (aged 10-18 years) deliberately assigned to undergo SpineCor (SC group, 30 patients) or Cheneau brace (Ch group, 41 patients) intervention completed the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22), the Spinal Appearance Questionnaire (SAQ), the Brace Questionnaire (BrQ) and the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI).

RESULTS: Concerning the BrQ, study groups differ in regards to emotional functioning (p= 0.014), vitality (p= 0.022) and social functioning (p= 0.048), indicating better functioning in the Ch group. Considering the SAQ, the Ch group assesses body curve (p= 0.024) less critically. Regarding the PODCI, the Ch group scored higher in the Global Functioning Scale (p= 0.023), the Upper Extremity and Physical Function Scale (p= 0.000), the Transfer and Basic Mobility Scale (p= 0.088), the Pain/Comfort Scale (p= 0.009) and the Happiness Scale (p= 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that patients treated with the rigid brace assess their vitality, physical function, emotional and social functioning better and are less critical towards body curve, in comparison to patients treated with the SpineCor.