Brace fitting day is a big day.  It is a good idea on this day to bring the whole family and even the closest friends of the patient.  This helps the patient except their brace better and also allows the family and friends to see what the brace is all about and how they can assist the patient in wearing it. 

First of all we will introduce the patient to there brace and show them all the components.  For girls there will be a body suit provided by SpineCor.  The body suit is to be worn under the brace to keep the components from rubbing.  Boys should look at getting some under armor shirts and underwear to wear under their brace. 

Before we begin fitting the brace we will instruct the patient and their family in the corrective movement.  This is the series of movements that the patient will perform to correct their scoliosis.  Each time the brace is put on the patient will have to perform their corrective movement, so it is essential that everyone is familiar with it.  Once we have mastered the corrective movement then we will begin fitting the brace.

The first component of the brace to be fit will be the pelvic base.  We will apply it to the patient and then have them move around and sit in it to determine if it is on correctly and allows easy movement.  The second component we will place is the Bolero, which we will keep in place with some comfort bands.  Lastly we will place the corrective bands.  To do this we will have the patient perform their corrective movement and then we will place a series of 4 bands in varying positions to hold the patient in their corrective movement.  Some of the bands will be tight and some will be loose. 

Once the brace is fit we will perform the clinical and postural evaluations that we performed on the first visit.  This will give us a comparison to the first visit to see if there has been any reduction in the postures and scoliometer measurements in the brace.  We will input this data into the SAS software. 

Following those exams we will then take a full spine back to front x-ray in the brace to see how the spine is changed wearing the brace.  We are looking for changes of 1 or 2 degrees up to 12 degrees difference in the post x-ray.  We will also take these new x-ray measurements and input them into the SAS software and then the computer will give us an updated prognosis for stabilization or correction. 

Once these exams are done, we will trim any extra lengths of straps off and burn the ends and then we will have the patient take off and put on the brace 3 or 4 times to get them very comfortable in applying it correctly.  Once this is completed the visit will be over and the patient will be scheduled to return in a month for their first follow up.

Brace Criteria | About the SpineCor Brace | Protocol of Care | Your First Visit | Fitting the Brace | Follow up Visits