Scoliosis even when untreated, with mortality rates similar to the general population. Older beliefs that untreated idiopathic scoliosis necessarily progresses into severe (cardiopulmonary) disability by old age have been refuted by later studies. The many causes of scoliosis include spinal deformities, neuromuscular problems, and inherited diseases or conditions caused by the environment. An estimated 65% of scoliosis cases are idiopathic, about 15% are congenital, and about 10% are secondary to a neuromuscular disease. Idiopathic scoliosis represents a majority of cases, but its causes are largely unknown. Recent studies indicate potential heritability of the disorder. About 38% of variance in scoliosis risk
Management of scoliosis of bracing has not been definitively demonstrated in randomised clinical studies, with more limited studies giving inconsistent conclusions. In 2013 the Bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Trial (BrAIST) published results establishing benefits of bracing in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. In the randomized cohort, 72% in the group instructed to wear a brace for 18 hours per day against 48% in the observation group sustained curve progression to under 50 degrees, the proxy used for not requiring surgery. Additionally results suggested that the more a patient wore the brace, the better the result. In progressive infantile and sometimes juvenile scoliosis, a