Analysis of Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis with the Kyushu University Underarm Brace (K. U. U. B.)

This study represents the end results of K. U. U. B. treatment of 51 patients with idiopathic scoliosis, who had either finished treatment (21) or were wearing the brace at night only (30). Their age when bracing began ranged from 5 years and 8 months to 17 years and 5 months. The mean initial curvature was 25.3 degrees. The average percent correction at end-result evaluation was 19.9%, which was equivalent to Milwaukee brace treatment. K. U. U. B. is more effective in controlling and correcting mild to moderate curves. Age, curve pattern and Harrington factor correlated with the response to brace treatment. That is, the factors contributing to better correction include young age of patients (under 14 years old), curvature below middle thoracic (especially thoracolumbar curves) and long curvatures.