Efficacy of Antilordotic TLSO Braces to Reduce Spondylolisthesis in Adolescents: A Clinical Retrospective Study

The use of braces for spondylolisthesis in adolescents has been proposed in the literature to reduce symptoms, but not deformity. Aim of this paper is to review retrospectively some clinical data preliminarily to a possible controlled study.

Inclusion criteria: 20-25±10% spondylolisthesis; Risser sign 0-3 (start), 4-5 (end); 2 years treatment. Population: 10 subjects (5 males); spondylolisthesis 23.1±5.2%; age and Risser sign 13.5±2.6 and 1.8±1.5 (start), 16.2±2.5 and 4.5±0.5 (today).

Treatment: antilordotic brace full-time (progressively reduced) and stabilizing physical exercises; 8 subjects still wear the brace night-time.

Results: spondylolisthesis 12.7±10% (at least 12 hours without brace): no cases progressed, 1 did not change, 5 improved of more than 10%, 2 of more than 50%, 2 reached 0. 2 patients reached the end of treatment and showed, at 6 months of follow-up, a reduction of the spondylolisthesis from 24% to 9% and from 16% to 0, stable at dynamic radiographs.