The incidence and etiology of back pain during orthotic management of idiopathic scoliosis was determined for 303 patients treated from 1980 through 1990 for a minimum of 1 year. All patients denied back pain before orthotic prescription. Thirty-four (11%) patients reported back pain after institution of brace treatment. A family history of scoliosis (p = 0.014) and vigorous sports activities (p < 0.001) were correlated with pain. Seventeen of 34 patients with pain showed >10 degrees of curve progression during bracing, whereas 67 of 269 patients without pain progressed (p = 0.002). Four patients with pain and 11 without were eventually found to have an underlying pathology (spondylolysis/listhesis). No other underlying pathologies were found. Night pain or a left thoracic curve pattern were not correlated with a serious underlying etiology. Back pain occurring after institution of brace treatment for idiopathic scoliosis is often associated with curve progression and is poorly correlated with a serious underlying pathology.
Back Pain Braces