3D, Dynamic and Mechanically-informed Decision Making in AIS

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a growth defect of the spine that primarily occurs in prepubertal children between the age of 10 to 14 years, affecting approximately 3% of these otherwise normal children. AIS has been associated with problems related to posture, load-related back pain, as well as aesthetic problems, e.g. the induced asymmetry of the shoulder. Therefore, early diagnosis followed by the appropriate treatment is vital to prevent further curve progression of AIS and minimize the health-related complications of these patients. The current treatment recommendation to stop curve progression for an immature patient with a scoliosis curve between 25 and 40 degrees is to wear a brace. If the curve in the skeletally immature patient is not responding to the brace treatment, dynamic scoliosis correction by vertebral body tethering can be considered when there is still some