OBJECTIVE

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most prevalent spinal deformity affecting healthy children. Although AIS typically lacks symptomatic manifestations, its resultant deformities can affect patients' quality of life (QoL). Evaluating QoL and stress levels is crucial in determining the optimal brace type for AIS patients; however, research comparing the effectiveness of different brace types in this regard is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of Boston versus Chêneau braces on QoL and stress levels in AIS patients.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical institution in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, involving 52 eligible patients selected through stratified random sampling based on type of brace as the main stratum. The inclusion criteria were idiopathic scoliosis, age ≥ 10 years, bracing for at least 3 months, and no history of cancer. QoL was evaluated according to the revised Scoliosis Research Society 22-item questionnaire (SRS-22r) and stress levels according to the eight-item Bad Sobernheim stress questionnaire (BSSQ-Brace). Independent-sample t-tests were used to compare brace-related QoL and stress level according to participants' sex and brace type.

RESULTS

Overall, 32 participants were treated with Boston braces (seven men and 25 women), with a median (IQR) age of 11.00 years (10.00-13.00), and 20 participants were treated with Chêneau braces (three men, 17 women), with a median (IQR) age of 12.50 years (10.00-14.25). The total SRS-22 score was not significantly different between the brace groups (p = 0.158). However, patients in the Boston brace group reported significantly higher satisfaction levels (median = 4.00, IQR = 3.50-4.50) than did those in the Chêneau brace group (median = 3.25, IQR = 2.38-4.13, p = 0.013, moderate effect size = 0.345, 95% CI = 0.060 to 0.590). Furthermore, the BSSQ-brace total score was significantly higher in the Boston brace group (median = 9.00, IQR = 8.00-12.00) than in the Chêneau brace group (median = 7.50, IQR = 4.75-10.00, p = 0.007, moderate effect size = 0.376, 95% CI = 0.130 to 0.590), indicating higher stress levels in the Chêneau brace group.

CONCLUSION

The QoL in AIS patients undergoing brace treatment was comparable across groups. Nonetheless, patients who used Chêneau braces experienced higher stress levels and lower treatment satisfaction rates than did those who used Boston braces. These findings can inform clinical decisions regarding prescription of bracing types and highlight the need for further in-depth research.