New Developments in Scoliosis Conservative Treatment: Their Basis and Results

Dear Colleagues,

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine and trunk. Despite a well-documented genetic predisposition, factors occurring in its development remain obscure, and experts consider it a multifactorial pathology. Some studies have documented and described its progression which is based on a biomechanical model. This leads to the current impossibility for any etiological treatment, making it mandatory to act on its consequences, which means trying to correct the deformity itself. High-quality studies have expressed doubts about the possibility for bracing to change the natural history in mild scoliosis patients, and some evidence has recently shown that even for surgical curves there is a chance to reduce the need for a surgical approach when patients are committed to a high-quality conservative treatment. Evidence is also showing a clear role for exercise in reducing the progression of scoliosis and improving quality of life, conducted as isolated treatment or as coadjutant treatment.

Based on this current knowledge recently highlighted by the Special Issue published in this journal, we would like to focus on new challenges and trends in treatment and evaluation. Technology is helping during this changing phase, represented by compliance loggers, cad-cam technology and 3-D printers to design and build braces, surface topography ultrasound and low-dosage radiographies to assess patients.

We would like to organize this Special Issue around a series of studies of different designs mainly (but not only) on these new tools for the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis.

In a fully evidence-based approach, we will also accept systematic reviews coherent with the current level of evidence on the topic. We suggest that the authors who want to engage in developing one of the topics above write to us to avoid overlap with other teams.

Dr. Fabio Zaina
Prof. Dr. Stefano Negrini
Dr. Sabrina Donzelli
Guest Editors

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