A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Clinical Effectiveness of 3D-Printed Orthosis in the Management of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Study design Prospective randomized controlled trial. Objective To compare clinical effectiveness and quality of life (QoL) of the 3D-printed orthosis (3O) and conventional orthosis (CO) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Summary of background data Using 3D printing technology to design and fabricate orthoses to manage AIS aiming to improve in-orthosis correction and patients' compliance that are considered essential factors of effective treatment. Clinical evaluation was conducted to study the effectiveness of this innovative method. Methods Thirty females with AIS who met the criteria (age 10-14, Cobb 20-40°, Risser sign 0-2, ≤12 months after menarche) were recruited. Subjects were randomly allocated to the 3O group (n = 15, age 12.4, Cobb 31.8°) and CO group (n = 15, age 12.0, Cobb 29.3°). All patients were prescribed for full-time wearing (23 hours/day) and follow-up every 4-6 months until bone maturity. Compliance was monitored by thermosensors, while QoL was assessed using three validated questionnaires. Results Comparable immediate in-orthosis correction was observed between 3O (-11.6°, p 5°. Daily wearing hours were 1.9 hours longer in the 3O group than the CO group (17.1 vs 15.2 hours, p = 0.934). Conclusion The 3O group could provide comparable clinical effects as compared with the CO group while patients with 3O showed similar compliance and QoL compared to those with CO.Level of Evidence: 1.