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Treatment of bracing for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients: a meta-analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of bracing and other treatments in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for randomized controlled trials that investigated bracing and other treatments for AIS. The Mantel–Haenszel method with fixed-effects or random-effects model was used to calculate the relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The results of heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were analyzed.

Results

Seven studies that met the eligibility criteria with 791 participants were included. The results of meta-analysis suggested significant differences between bracing and observation groups in successful outcomes [OR 3.58, 95% CI (1.92, 6.68), P < 0.0001; P for heterogeneity = 0.008, I2 = 65%], quality of life [MD = 2.13, 95% CI (0.51, 3.75), P = 0.01; P for heterogeneity = 0.89, I2 = 0%], and adverse events [OR 5.31, 95% CI (2.42, 11.66), P < 0.0001; P for heterogeneity = 0.78, I2 = 0%].

Conclusion

The findings of this meta-analysis suggested that bracing is efficient and safe for the treatment of AIS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China

    Yuhao Zhang

  2. Department of Bone and Joint Rehabilitation, Yunnan Province Disabled Rehabilitation Center, Kunming, China

    Xingwei Li

Authors
  1. Yuhao Zhang
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  2. Xingwei Li
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Correspondence to Xingwei Li.

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Zhang, Y., Li, X. Treatment of bracing for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients: a meta-analysis. Eur Spine J 28, 2012–2019 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-019-06075-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-019-06075-1

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