Quality of life and brace-treated idiopathic scoliosis: a cross-sectional study performed at the Centre des Massues on a population of 120 children and adolescents.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the influence of orthopedic treatment on quality of life (QoL) in children and adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis and treated with either the carbon brace (CMCR, corset monocoque carbone respectant la respiration) or the Lyon brace. To compare these braces. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study on a population of 120 patients with idiopathic scoliosis, visiting for routine evaluation following the onset of an orthopedic treatment at the Centre des Massues in Lyon. Eighty-two patients used the carbon brace and 38 patients used the Lyon brace. The patients completed the SRS-22 questionnaire (where a low score means a bad QoL), an evaluation scale of QoL specific to spinal deformities, and visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain, motivation and QoL ranging from 0 to 100mm. RESULTS: The QoL of Lyon brace-treated patients is significantly worse than that of patients treated with a carbon brace for the overall score (mean±SD, 4.05±0.37 vs 3.77±0.46, P=0.002) as well as for function (P=0.01), pain (P=0.001), and appearance (P=0.004). These results are confirmed by the VAS for QoL (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of the carbon brace and of the Lyon brace induces a reduction in QoL whatever the evaluation tool, either SRS-22 or VAS. However, the use of the Lyon brace impairs QoL more than the use of the carbon brace.