[Idiopathic scolioses treated with the Boston brace].

It is well known that Boston bracing may stop progression in many patients with minor curves. One hundred and thirty-eight patients were treated with the Boston brace for idiopathic scoliosis. Age was 14.1 +/- 1.6 years at the time of bracing, and the length of time spent in the brace was 2.6 +/- 1.0 years. The major curve at the time of bracing was 39 +/- 10 degrees, and 36 +/- 11 degrees at the time of follow-up in the patients who completed bracing. Thirty-six patients progressed, and were later fused. None of the patients with the apex of the curve between T11 and L1 required spinal fusion (p < 0.0001). No patients with curve magnitude on sidebending of less than 11 degrees needed spinal fusion. None of the patients who had a Harrington factor of less than five degrees per vertebra needed spinal fusion.