Successful management of idiopathic early-onset scoliosis: effect of curve correction and bracing after Mehta casting

Study design

Patients with idiopathic EOS treated by Mehta casting followed by bracing or observation from a single institution.

Objectives

To determine casting protocol parameters leading to successful management; to determine efficacy of bracing vs. observation after cast discontinuance.

Background

Previous studies have not precisely defined parameters for cast discontinuance (amount of correction, number of casts), nor have documented the efficacy of brace treatment.

Methods

73 patients undergoing Mehta casting were braced (n = 56) or observed (n = 17) after casting with follow-up for a mean of 51–58 months. 57 patients had ≥ 4 casts applied; 39 had ≥ 5 casts. Success was defined as no further treatment required. Curve magnitude was measured at time points pre-casting, at cast discontinuance, and last follow up.

Results

There was no difference in success rate between braced patients (79% success) and observed (71%). Curve correction to < 30° at cast discontinuance was crucial parameter for success, as 95% (45/47) of patients with this correction achieved success, braced or not, while only 42% (11/26) with residual curves ≥ 30° achieved success (p < .001) and 14 of these required surgery compared to 0/47 successful patients. The number of casts (over/under 4 or 5) made no difference in achieving success. 10/26 patients who had residual curves ≥ 30° and were braced achieved success due to further curve diminution during bracing.

Conclusions

Cast correction to < 30° followed by bracing achieved 100% success in 34 patients compared to 85% (13 patients) who were observed (p = .07). For residual curves ≥ 30° bracing can produce some correction and succeed in delaying further treatment.