Brace yourself: new study tests if back braces really work for scoliosis

NCT ID NCT00448448

Terminated Disease control Sponsor: Stuart L. Weinstein, MD Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looked at whether wearing a back brace can stop spine curves from getting worse in teens with scoliosis. About 383 teens with mild to moderate curves were either assigned to wear a brace for at least 18 hours a day or just be observed. The goal was to see if bracing leads to better outcomes by the time they reach skeletal maturity.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Brace (TLSO)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could confirm that bracing effectively prevents scoliosis from worsening, reducing the need for surgery.
What could go wrong: The trial was terminated early, so results may be incomplete. Bracing requires wearing a brace 18+ hours daily, which can be uncomfortable and hard to maintain.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ADOLESCENT IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and Nemours Children's Clinic

Wilmington, Delaware, 19899, United States
BC Children's Hospital

Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3V4, Canada
Carrie Tingley Hospital

Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87102-1715, United States
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia, 30342-4755, United States
Children's Hospital Boston

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Children's Hospital Central California

Madera, California, 93638, United States
Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center

Seattle, Washington, 98105, United States
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics.

Kansas City, Missouri, 64108, United States
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, United States
Hospital for Sick Children

Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada
Hospital for Special Surgery

New York, New York, 10021, United States
Rady Childrens Hospital

San Diego, California, 92123, United States
Shriner's Hospital for Children

Chicago, Illinois, 60707, United States
Shriner's Hospital for Children

Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Shriners Hospital of Northern California

Sacramento, California, 95817, United States
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Lexington

Lexington, Kentucky, 40502, United States
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Minneapolis

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55414, United States
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84103, United States
Shriners Hospitals for Children - St. Louis

St Louis, Missouri, 63131, United States
St. Louis Children's Hospital

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
University of Iowa Children's Hospital

Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States
University of Rochester Medical Center

Rochester, New York, 14642, United States
University of Virginia Health System

Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908-0232, United States

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