By Lee Hui Chieh
PATIENTS whose spines are
crooked now stand a better chance of avoiding surgery with
a new body brace that prevents their condition from worsening.
Studies have shown that
77 per cent of scoliosis patients do not need surgery to
prop up their spines after using the new brace, called
SpineCor, compared with just 21 per cent of those who use
the conventional one.
The new brace, made of
a series of elastic bands adjusted to fit each patient,
is also more comfortable, flexible and is easier on the
eye than the conventional brace made of hard plastic.
These attributes are important
because they allow patients to carry out most daily activities,
including sports, while wearing them. Thus patients are
more likely to wear them the whole day as recommended,
said Dr Kevin Lim, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at KK
Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), which started fitting
patients with the new brace in January.
He said: 'With the old
brace, only 50 per cent of the patients wore them most
of the day. If they don't wear it, it's not doing what
it's supposed to do.'
A patient whose spine is
bent at an angle of between 25 and 40 degrees is asked
to wear a brace for 20 to 22 hours daily. This does not
correct the existing curvature, but it reduces the risk
of the spine becoming even more crooked.
If the curvature grows
to 40 to 50 degrees despite the brace, surgery is required.
This involves inserting metal implants such as rods and
screws to 'fuse' the spine in a straight position.
Since KKH introduced the
new brace, all its patients who need bracing have chosen
it over the old one, Dr Lim said. And most of them have
been wearing it for the recommended 20 hours a day.
So far, 17 patients have
been fitted with the new brace, and seven more have made
appointments to be fitted.
But KKH will still offer
the old brace as an option for those who cannot afford
the new one. The total cost of the new brace, fitting and
physiotherapy sessions can go up to $3,700, about four
to five times that of a conventional brace.
Mrs Raine Choo, an executive
in her 40s, opted for the new brace for her 12-year-old
daughter Loraine.
With her new brace, Loraine
has taken part in her physical education classes and played
volleyball, which would not have been possible with the
conventional one.
Scoliosis is a condition
where the spine is curved sideways at an angle of more
than 10 degrees. Its exact cause is not known. About 2
per cent of girls here, aged between 11 and 12, have scoliosis.
Seven times more girls are affected than boys.
Most patients develop it
during their teenage years, usually between the ages of
10 and 18, when they are experiencing growth spurts. Any
treatment required is usually given during this period
as patients' conditions are unlikely to worsen significantly
after puberty.
(Source: The
Straits Times) |
