Infantile Scoliosis Bracing

About Infantile Scoliosis Bracing

Scoliosis bracing is a treatment approach which may be used for infants with idiopathic scoliosis

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What Is Infantile Scoliosis?

Infantile scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that appears in children under 4 years of age. It is rare but can sometimes progress rapidly as your child grows. In some cases, small curves may resolve on their own but assessment and monitoring is required. When a curve is larger or showing signs of worsening, early treatment can make a big difference.

When Bracing Is Recommended

Bracing may be considered in cases where the curve is progressive or unlikely to resolve on its own.

Bracing Treatment

Traditionally, infantile scoliosis has been managed with observation or serial casting under anaesthetic. Anaesthetics at such a young age poses risks to the development of children. With advances in technology, custom 3D-designed braces now offer a gentler, non-invasive alternative in some cases.

A 3D ScoliBrace® can be custom-made for each patient. This allows parents to remove the brace for bathing but and avoids the use of anaesthetic. Bracing may also be suitable when anaesthesia or casting isn’t possible due to other medical factors.

The brace is usually worn full time, except for bathing and exercise. The brace will be removed from the plan once the curve has improved or is stable. This is a very individual treatment plan that requires the attention of a Clinician specifically trained in the area of Infantile Scoliosis. Once the curve is stable, wear time may be reduced and in many cases the condition may resolve As your child grows, scoliosis-specific exercises such as ScoliBalance® can help maintain posture and spinal stability after bracing [1].

We will assess each child with the help of the parent to position the child. A postural assessment will be completed, along with photos and measurements. An X-ray will be required but these are minimised whenever possible. A 3D scan will be used to assess the patient to prepare a brace design. This scan can occur easily in a ScoliCare clinic with a parent present.

From there the scans, X-rays, photos and other assessment results are used to custom-design a ScoliBrace®. The brace is designed to allow some room for growth, within reason.

Our brace for infantile patients provides gentle, non-invasive support to help guide spinal development. EachScoliBrace® is custom designed for 3D correction and, for infants, is sized for small torsos using body scans, posture photos, and X-rays to create a precise, molded fit.

The brace offers a non-anesthetic option that aims to reduce curve progression, is comfortable for full-day wear, allows monitoring and adjusting for growth and is suitable for idiopathic, congenital, and neuromuscular scoliosis.

Contact Us if you have questions about our bracing system for infants or to see if bracing might be a suitable treatment approach.

Types of Bracing Treatment

Different brace approaches are used depending on age and curve characteristics.

Infantile

Juvenile

Adolescent

Adult

Neuromuscular

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[1] McAviney, J. Brown, B. (2022). Treatment of infantile idiopathic scoliosis using a novel thoracolumbosacral orthosis: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports, 16(1):20.