Scoliosis Treatment Results
Where do you fit?
No two people are the same, thus no two spines are the same; this is especially true when concerning scoliosis. There are many factors that go into determining how successful one will be when treating scoliosis and the scoliosis curve reduction one can expect. These include; initial Cobb angle, age, gender, Risser (or growth stage), compliance, the shape of the scoliosis (C-curve or S-curve), and more. If we thoroughly understand each patient and their curve, we can then develop realistic expectations for their scoliosis treatment and maximize their treatment results.
Since there are so many elements that determine the degree of success in treating each case or type of scoliosis, we’ve categorized our past cases below for you to have a better idea of where you fit.
Understanding the Scoliosis Treatment Results Cards
Each image below is one of our patient’s scoliosis treatment results that we’ve been given permission to share. The groups are categorized by the initial curve size at the start of treatment at Scoliosis Care Centers. While not every patient’s case is on this page, the statistics represent our entire database of curves within that degree range WITHOUT filtering for compliance. For more information on how we measure success click here.
The two Xrays on each tile illustrate the before and after results. These before and after Xrays are both OUT OF BRACE. The chart at the bottom of each tile shows when the patient began care with a quarterly update of their progress. The different lines represent sections of the spine (see the legend for details).
In some cases, a patient had an image or multiple taken prior to beginning non-surgical scoliosis treatment at Scoliosis Care Centers. In these cases, the green line overlayed on the chart will show when they began treatment with us.
Helpful definitions to interpret each treatment result:
- Reduction – Percent reduction from the largest Cobb angle of the baseline compared to the current Cobb angle
- Baseline – Initial curve degree (curve size)
- Current – Current curve degree (curve size)
- Risser at Start – Measurement between 0 to 5 identifying the state in skeletal maturity (has the patient stopped growing)
- Rigo Type – A specific scoliosis classification correlating with brace treatment
- Observation Period – Time since their first image was taken
Scoliosis Curve Graph Abbreviations:
- PrxT – Proximal Thoracic Cobb Angle (Upper Thoracic)
- Tsp – Thoracic Spine Cobb Angle
- TL – ThoracoLumbar Cobb Angle
- Lsp – Lumbar Spine Cobb Angle
- LSac – LumboSacral Cobb Angle
Mild Scoliosis: Initial Cobb Angle: 10-24°
Success Rate:
100%
The percentage of cases in this category that were prevented from progressing to surgical range (40 degrees)
Average Reduction:
34%
The average of ALL patients who started the program, not filtered for compliance. This includes patients who worked hard and those who did not
Our Best Reduction:
94%
Our largest percent reduction on record for cases that began with a Cobb Angle between 10 to 24 degrees.
100% Success Rate For Treating Scoliosis With Initial Cobb Angle 10° - 24°
94% Curve Reduction: 24° to 1.5°
- 11 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 24 month observation period
27% Curve Reduction: 18° to 13°
- 12 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 3 at start of treatment
- 6 month observation period
88% Curve Reduction: 25° to 3°
- 11 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 23 month observation period
68% Curve Reduction: 21° to 7°
- 12 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 1 at start of treatment
- 18 month observation period
78% Curve Reduction: 18° to 4°
- 13 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 27 month observation period
Moderate Scoliosis: Initial Cobb Angle: 25-39°
Success Rate:
95%
The percentage of cases in this category that were prevented from progressing to surgical range (40 degrees)
Average Reduction:
35%
The average of ALL patients who started the program, not filtered for compliance. This includes patients who worked hard and those who did not
Our Best Reduction:
77%
Our largest percent reduction on record for cases that began with a Cobb Angle between 25 to 39 degrees.
95% Success Rate For Scoliosis With Initial Cobb Angle 25° - 39°
77% Curve Reduction: 37° to 8°
- 10 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 23 month observation period
62% Curve Reduction: 33° to 13°
- 13 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 8 month observation period
40% Curve Reduction: 39° to 24°
- 13 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 1 at start of treatment
- 19 month observation period
67% Curve Reduction: 37° to 12°
- 14 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 4 at start of treatment
- 16 month observation period
68% Curve Reduction: 30° to 10°
- 14 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 1 at start of treatment
- 32 month observation period
76% Curve Reduction: 28° to 7°
- 14 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 21 month observation period
59% Curve Reduction: 30° to 12°
- 13 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 2 at start of treatment
- 28 month observation period
59% Curve Reduction: 29° to 12°
- 7 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 30 month observation period
67% Curve Reduction: 31° to 10°
- 16 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 4 at start of treatment
- 24 month observation period
63% Curve Reduction: 26° to 10°
- 10 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 10 month observation period
42% Curve Reduction: 38° to 22°
- 12 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 49 month observation period
75% Curve Reduction: 36° to 9°
- 10 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 36 month observation period
77% Curve Reduction: 31° to 7°
- 12 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 16 month observation period
58% Curve Reduction: 35° to 15°
- 15 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 4 at start of treatment
- 22 month observation period
Severe Scoliosis - Category 1: Initial Cobb Angle: 40-50°
Success Rate:
60%
The percentage of cases in this category that were reduced from surgical range (40 degrees) to below.
Average Reduction:
24%
The average of ALL patients who started the program, not filtered for compliance. This includes patients who worked hard and those who did not
Our Best Reduction:
66%
Our largest percent reduction on record for cases that began with a Cobb Angle between 40 to 50 degrees.
60% Success Rate For Scoliosis With Initial Cobb Angle 40° - 50°
66% Curve Reduction: 50° to 17°
- 9 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 60 month observation period
42% Curve Reduction: 50° to 29°
- 15 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 4 at start of treatment
- 18 month observation period
37% Curve Reduction: 46° to 29°
- 12 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 1 at start of treatment
- 3 month observation period
59% Curve Reduction: 50° to 21°
- 13 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 4 at start of treatment
- 21 month observation period
52% Curve Reduction: 46° to 22°
- 14 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 18 month observation period
Severe Scoliosis - Category 2: Initial Cobb Angle: 51-64°
37% Curve Reduction: 62° to 39°
- 14 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 2 at start of treatment
- 10 month observation period
22% Curve Reduction: 60° to 47°
- 14 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 14 month observation period
38% Curve Reduction: 60° to 37°
- 12 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 2 at start of treatment
- 16 month observation period
25% Curve Reduction: 60° to 45°
- 14 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 4 at start of treatment
- 22 month observation period
Severe Scoliosis - Category 3: Initial Cobb Angle: 65+°
33% Curve Reduction: 90° to 60°
- 14 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 4 at start of treatment
- 41 month observation period
28% Curve Reduction: 65° to 47°
- 7 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 0 at start of treatment
- 9 month observation period
28% Curve Reduction: 65° to 47°
- 17 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 4 at start of treatment
- 9 month observation period
23% Curve Reduction: 83° to 64°
- 13 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 2 at start of treatment
- 35 month observation period
27% Curve Reduction: 65° to 48°
- 14 years old at start of treatment
- Risser 4 at start of treatment
- 51 month observation period
We can see from the treatment summaries above that the scoliosis treatment results obtained by our patients and their treatment success directly relates to the size of the curve, as well as how mature the child is skeletally. The sooner we catch the scoliosis and begin treatment, and the younger the child, the better the outcome.
This concept is explained in detail on our treatment page, but the key concepts are that (1) we can use a child’s growth as a corrective force to straighten the spine; (2) the scoliosis has not been present as long and thus the spine is not as “stuck”; (3) treatment should be continued until the child has finished growing.
Take home message: Early detection allows for early intervention and non-surgical treatment; allowing for better treatment results and the best chance for a straight spine; avoiding surgery; and a happy, healthy adulthood!