A systematic literature review of spinal brace/orthosis treatment for adults with scoliosis between 1967 and 2018: clinical outcomes and harms data

Abstract Background There is a paucity of literature regarding the conservative management of adult scoliosis. The authors review and summarize the literature from 1967 to 2018 on the clinical outcomes of spinal brace/orthosis use in this subgroup of the population. Methods CINAHL, Embase, CENTRAL,...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jeb McAviney, Johanna Mee, Azharuddin Fazalbhoy, Juan Du Plessis, Benjamin T. Brown
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-02-01
Series:BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-3095-x
_version_ 1818969462763683840
author Jeb McAviney
Johanna Mee
Azharuddin Fazalbhoy
Juan Du Plessis
Benjamin T. Brown
author_facet Jeb McAviney
Johanna Mee
Azharuddin Fazalbhoy
Juan Du Plessis
Benjamin T. Brown
author_sort Jeb McAviney
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background There is a paucity of literature regarding the conservative management of adult scoliosis. The authors review and summarize the literature from 1967 to 2018 on the clinical outcomes of spinal brace/orthosis use in this subgroup of the population. Methods CINAHL, Embase, CENTRAL, PubMed and PEDro were searched from database inception to the 30th of October, 2018. A combination of medical subject heading terms and keywords pertaining to three core concepts (adult, scoliosis, and braces/orthoses) were used in the search. Studies were included if A) clinical outcomes were collected from B) participants ≥18 years C) receiving spinal brace/orthosis treatment for D) primary degenerative (de novo) scoliosis or progressive idiopathic scoliosis. A step-wise screening process was employed which involved a title and abstract screen for relevancy followed by a full text eligibility appraisal by two authors. Data were extracted, and a risk of bias assessment was performed on the included cohort studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Given the overall level and quality of the available evidence, conclusions were drawn based on a qualitative summary of the evidence. Results Ten studies (four case reports and six cohort studies) were included which detailed the clinical outcomes of soft (2 studies) or rigid bracing (8 studies), used as a standalone therapy or in combination with physiotherapy/rehabilitation, in 339 adults with various types of scoliosis. Most studies included female participants only. Commonly reported outcomes were pain (7 studies), function (3 studies) and Cobb angles (3 studies), with follow-up times ranging from 2 days to 17 years. Brace wear prescriptions ranged from 2 to 23 h per day, and there was mixed brace-compliance reported. Most studies reported modest or significant reduction in pain and improvement in function at follow-up. There were mixed findings with regards to Cobb angle changes in response to bracing. Participants from one study noted discomfort associated with bracing. Each of the six cohort studies demonstrated a high risk of bias. Conclusion There is evidence to suggest that spinal brace/orthosis treatment may have a positive short – medium term influence on pain and function in adults with either progressive primary (de novo) degenerative scoliosis or progressive idiopathic scoliosis. At this point in time the evidence is of low quality and has been focused primarily on female patients with thoracolumbar and lumbar curves. More granular statements regarding the efficacy of different brace types or manufacturers, or the effect of this therapy on different curve types cannot be determined based on the current literature. Properly constructed prospective trials are required to better understand the efficacy of bracing in adult scoliosis.
first_indexed 2024-12-20T14:20:58Z
format Article
id doaj.art-23f8f7af6da44c93887277dcd6574c3f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1471-2474
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-20T14:20:58Z
publishDate 2020-02-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
spelling doaj.art-23f8f7af6da44c93887277dcd6574c3f2022-12-21T19:37:56ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742020-02-0121111210.1186/s12891-020-3095-xA systematic literature review of spinal brace/orthosis treatment for adults with scoliosis between 1967 and 2018: clinical outcomes and harms dataJeb McAviney0Johanna Mee1Azharuddin Fazalbhoy2Juan Du Plessis3Benjamin T. Brown4Sydney Scoliosis ClinicMelbourne Scoliosis ClinicMelbourne Scoliosis ClinicSydney Scoliosis ClinicSydney Scoliosis ClinicAbstract Background There is a paucity of literature regarding the conservative management of adult scoliosis. The authors review and summarize the literature from 1967 to 2018 on the clinical outcomes of spinal brace/orthosis use in this subgroup of the population. Methods CINAHL, Embase, CENTRAL, PubMed and PEDro were searched from database inception to the 30th of October, 2018. A combination of medical subject heading terms and keywords pertaining to three core concepts (adult, scoliosis, and braces/orthoses) were used in the search. Studies were included if A) clinical outcomes were collected from B) participants ≥18 years C) receiving spinal brace/orthosis treatment for D) primary degenerative (de novo) scoliosis or progressive idiopathic scoliosis. A step-wise screening process was employed which involved a title and abstract screen for relevancy followed by a full text eligibility appraisal by two authors. Data were extracted, and a risk of bias assessment was performed on the included cohort studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Given the overall level and quality of the available evidence, conclusions were drawn based on a qualitative summary of the evidence. Results Ten studies (four case reports and six cohort studies) were included which detailed the clinical outcomes of soft (2 studies) or rigid bracing (8 studies), used as a standalone therapy or in combination with physiotherapy/rehabilitation, in 339 adults with various types of scoliosis. Most studies included female participants only. Commonly reported outcomes were pain (7 studies), function (3 studies) and Cobb angles (3 studies), with follow-up times ranging from 2 days to 17 years. Brace wear prescriptions ranged from 2 to 23 h per day, and there was mixed brace-compliance reported. Most studies reported modest or significant reduction in pain and improvement in function at follow-up. There were mixed findings with regards to Cobb angle changes in response to bracing. Participants from one study noted discomfort associated with bracing. Each of the six cohort studies demonstrated a high risk of bias. Conclusion There is evidence to suggest that spinal brace/orthosis treatment may have a positive short – medium term influence on pain and function in adults with either progressive primary (de novo) degenerative scoliosis or progressive idiopathic scoliosis. At this point in time the evidence is of low quality and has been focused primarily on female patients with thoracolumbar and lumbar curves. More granular statements regarding the efficacy of different brace types or manufacturers, or the effect of this therapy on different curve types cannot be determined based on the current literature. Properly constructed prospective trials are required to better understand the efficacy of bracing in adult scoliosis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-3095-xBracesAdultScoliosisTherapeuticsPain
spellingShingle Jeb McAviney
Johanna Mee
Azharuddin Fazalbhoy
Juan Du Plessis
Benjamin T. Brown
A systematic literature review of spinal brace/orthosis treatment for adults with scoliosis between 1967 and 2018: clinical outcomes and harms data
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Braces
Adult
Scoliosis
Therapeutics
Pain
title A systematic literature review of spinal brace/orthosis treatment for adults with scoliosis between 1967 and 2018: clinical outcomes and harms data
title_full A systematic literature review of spinal brace/orthosis treatment for adults with scoliosis between 1967 and 2018: clinical outcomes and harms data
title_fullStr A systematic literature review of spinal brace/orthosis treatment for adults with scoliosis between 1967 and 2018: clinical outcomes and harms data
title_full_unstemmed A systematic literature review of spinal brace/orthosis treatment for adults with scoliosis between 1967 and 2018: clinical outcomes and harms data
title_short A systematic literature review of spinal brace/orthosis treatment for adults with scoliosis between 1967 and 2018: clinical outcomes and harms data
title_sort systematic literature review of spinal brace orthosis treatment for adults with scoliosis between 1967 and 2018 clinical outcomes and harms data
topic Braces
Adult
Scoliosis
Therapeutics
Pain
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-3095-x
work_keys_str_mv AT jebmcaviney asystematicliteraturereviewofspinalbraceorthosistreatmentforadultswithscoliosisbetween1967and2018clinicaloutcomesandharmsdata
AT johannamee asystematicliteraturereviewofspinalbraceorthosistreatmentforadultswithscoliosisbetween1967and2018clinicaloutcomesandharmsdata
AT azharuddinfazalbhoy asystematicliteraturereviewofspinalbraceorthosistreatmentforadultswithscoliosisbetween1967and2018clinicaloutcomesandharmsdata
AT juanduplessis asystematicliteraturereviewofspinalbraceorthosistreatmentforadultswithscoliosisbetween1967and2018clinicaloutcomesandharmsdata
AT benjamintbrown asystematicliteraturereviewofspinalbraceorthosistreatmentforadultswithscoliosisbetween1967and2018clinicaloutcomesandharmsdata
AT jebmcaviney systematicliteraturereviewofspinalbraceorthosistreatmentforadultswithscoliosisbetween1967and2018clinicaloutcomesandharmsdata
AT johannamee systematicliteraturereviewofspinalbraceorthosistreatmentforadultswithscoliosisbetween1967and2018clinicaloutcomesandharmsdata
AT azharuddinfazalbhoy systematicliteraturereviewofspinalbraceorthosistreatmentforadultswithscoliosisbetween1967and2018clinicaloutcomesandharmsdata
AT juanduplessis systematicliteraturereviewofspinalbraceorthosistreatmentforadultswithscoliosisbetween1967and2018clinicaloutcomesandharmsdata
AT benjamintbrown systematicliteraturereviewofspinalbraceorthosistreatmentforadultswithscoliosisbetween1967and2018clinicaloutcomesandharmsdata