Trial of Flexible Bracing Treatment of Adolescents Idiopathic Scoliosis

Scoliosis is the three-dimensional (3D) deformity of the spine and trunk. The majority or 80% of the scoliosis cases are idiopathic which means that the cause is unknown. The progression of scoliosis is much more frequently seen in females and severely scoliotic patients face a higher risk of different health problems in their adult life Bracing is the most commonly used non-invasive treatment for patients with smaller spinal curves which are usually between 21 and 40 degrees at Risser stage 0, 1 or 2. However, scoliosis braces are traditionally constructed based on the experience of orthotists. Since 3D spinal deformities are complex, the design and evaluation of braces are challenging with no consensus on an optimal brace design. AI and ML methods therefore constitute a new approach to address the difficulties in designing braces.