The 2013, multi-center National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study, Bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Trial (BrAIST), documented significant success in preventing spinal curve progression and surgery in children who were screened, diagnosed, and treated with a custom brace.
The revised statement highlights the BrAIST research and strongly recommends that screening examinations for spine deformity be part of medical home preventive care visits for girls at age 10 and age 12; for boys, once at age 13 or 14. Also, it recommends that recommends that screening programs have well-trained personnel who can appropriately administer forward bending tests, and the use of a scoliometer to correctly measure and identify abnormal spine curvature, and to refer patients for additional tests and imaging as needed.
“The BrAIST study provided high quality evidence that bracing for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis can decrease the rate of progression of spinal curve to the surgical level,” says M. Timothy Hresko, MD, co-author of the revised statement. “Early detection of scoliosis is essential to identifying patients who may benefit from the use of a spinal brace. The new, 2016 joint position statement—released jointly by four prominent child health organizations—reflects the importance of early scoliosis detection.”
