title: Vertebral Body Stapling versus Bracing for Patients with High-Risk Moderate Idiopathic Scoliosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report a comparison study of vertebral body stapling (VBS) versus a matched bracing cohort for immature patients with moderate (25 to 44°) idiopathic scoliosis (IS).
  
  
  METHODS
  42 of 49 consecutive patients (86%) with IS were treated with VBS and followed for a minimum of 2 years. They were compared to 121 braced patients meeting identical inclusion criteria. 52 patients (66 curves) were matched according to age at start of treatment (10.6 years versus 11.1 years, resp. [P = 0.07]) and gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For thoracic curves 25-34°, VBS had a success rate (defined as curve progression <10°) of 81% versus 61% for bracing (P = 0.16). In thoracic curves 35-44°, VBS and bracing both had a poor success rate. For lumbar curves, success rates were similar in both groups for curves measuring 25-34°.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this comparison of two cohorts of patients with high-risk (Risser 0-1) moderate IS (25-44°), in smaller thoracic curves (25-34°) VBS provided better results as a clinical trend as compared to bracing. VBS was found not to be effective for thoracic curves ≥35°. For lumbar curves measuring 25-34°, results appear to be similar for both VBS and bracing, at 80% success.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Spine & Scoliosis, 3100 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA.
authors.forename: Laury
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cuddihy
authors.affiliation: Sahlgren University Hospital, Gothenburg University, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Aina J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Danielsson
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cahill
authors.affiliation: Shriners Hospitals for Children-Philadelphia, 3551 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Amer F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Samdani
authors.affiliation: Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, 3 Cooper Plaza, Suite 411, Camden, NJ 08103, USA.
authors.forename: Harsh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grewal
authors.affiliation: Tri Rivers Surgical Associates, 9104 Babcock Boulevard, Suite 2120, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, USA.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University, 901 Walnut Street, 6th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mulcahey
authors.affiliation: Temple University School of Medicine, 3420 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gaughan
authors.affiliation: Institute for Spine & Scoliosis, 3100 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA.
authors.forename: M Darryl
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Antonacci
authors.affiliation: Institute for Spine & Scoliosis, 3100 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA.
authors.forename: Randal R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Betz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome