Brace treatment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. An update on concepts and technique.

Correct guidelines for the initiation and evaluation of brace treatment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are dependent on a thorough knowledge of the condition's natural history. Recently acquired data from school children screening programs and long-term follow-up studies of idiopathic scoliosis have added new insight to the natural history of the condition. This new information has raised questions concerning the validity of previous treatment guidelines and has led to changes concerning patient selection and indications for brace initiation, type of spinal orthotic used, duration of brace treatment, brace-wear programs, and anticipated results from bracing. Proper application of this new knowledge allows the physician to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment and to become more efficient in the use of spinal orthoses.