When a child is diagnosed with scoliosis, parents often feel a mix of concern and urgency. Questions come quickly: Will this get worse? Will my child need surgery? How will this affect their future? Fortunately, advances in pediatric orthopedic care have transformed how scoliosis is treated—especially for children and adolescents who are still growing. Today, Custom Bracing for Scoliosis plays a central role in helping many patients avoid surgery altogether while protecting long-term spine health.
At The Pediatric Orthopedic Center, scoliosis care is built around early detection, precision diagnostics, and individualized treatment plans that evolve as a child grows. Custom bracing is not a one-size-fits-all solution—it’s a targeted medical intervention grounded in biomechanics, growth science, and decades of clinical data.
Why Bracing Matters in Pediatric Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine, most commonly diagnosed as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, meaning it develops during adolescence without a known cause. It often appears during growth spurts, when rapid skeletal changes can cause spinal curves to progress quickly.
Doctors measure the severity of scoliosis using the Cobb angle, calculated from spinal X-rays. Curves under 10 degrees are considered within normal limits, while curves between 25 and 40 degrees in growing children often qualify for bracing. The goal of a scoliosis brace is not to “cure” scoliosis, but to prevent the curve from worsening during growth—when progression risk is highest.
Our Latest Technology: Delivering Precise Diagnoses and Targeted Treatments
Successful bracing starts with accurate diagnosis. At The Pediatric Orthopedic Center, we use advanced low-dose imaging technology, including EOS imaging , to evaluate spinal alignment in three dimensions while minimizing radiation exposure. This precision allows our specialists to monitor subtle curve changes over time and adjust treatment plans proactively.
Understanding curve pattern, skeletal maturity, and growth potential helps determine whether a child is a good candidate for custom bracing for scoliosis, and how aggressively that brace should be worn.
96% of Patients Treated Without Surgery: Our Minimally Invasive Scoliosis Approach
One of the most encouraging realities in modern scoliosis care is this: 96% of patients who would have required surgery 30 years ago can now be treated non-surgically. Bracing is a major reason for that shift.
When prescribed and monitored correctly, bracing has a high success rate, particularly in children and adolescents who wear their brace as recommended. Success is strongly linked to compliance—specifically, time brace use per day. Many patients are prescribed full time bracing, typically 18–20 hours daily, though schedules vary depending on curve severity and growth stage.
Importantly, bracing is not about restriction. Most children continue school, sports, and daily activities with minimal disruption, especially after the adjustment period.
Comprehensive Scoliosis Care with In-House Rigo Bracing
At TPOC, we offer in-house Rigo Chêneau bracing, a modern scoliosis brace designed to address the spine’s three-dimensional deformity. Unlike older rigid designs, Rigo braces are custom-molded to each patient’s anatomy and curve pattern, using corrective pressure zones and expansion areas to guide spinal growth.
Having orthotists on site allows for precise brace fitting, same-day adjustments, and ongoing refinements as a child grows. This continuity of care is critical—poorly fitted braces reduce comfort, compliance, and effectiveness.
Parents often ask about comfort and pain relief. While scoliosis itself is not always painful, some patients experience muscle fatigue or discomfort. Properly fitted braces often improve posture and reduce strain, and most initial discomfort fades as the body adapts.
Wearing the Brace: What Families Should Expect
Adjusting to wearing the brace takes time. The first few weeks involve gradual wear schedules, skin checks, and posture retraining. Education and reassurance are key—especially for teens navigating school and social life.
Bracing works best when paired with supportive care, such as Schroth-based physical therapy, which helps strengthen postural muscles and improve body awareness. Together, these approaches help children stay active and confident while managing scoliosis effectively.
How FIREFLY® Technology Enhances Precision in Scoliosis Surgery Planning
While most patients do not need surgery, some curves progress despite optimal bracing—particularly in severe or rapidly progressing cases.
For those patients, The Pediatric Orthopedic Center uses FIREFLY® Technology during surgery planning and procedures. This advanced navigation system improves implant placement accuracy while minimizing radiation exposure and blood loss. Even when surgery becomes necessary, minimally invasive techniques and rapid recovery protocols allow most patients to walk the next day and return home within 36 hours.
Bracing plays an essential role here as well—it helps delay or prevent surgery and ensures that, if surgery is needed, it occurs under the safest and most controlled conditions possible.
Protect Your Child’s Future Spine Health—Without Surgery
Scoliosis is not a one-time diagnosis—it’s a condition that evolves as children grow. Early detection, consistent monitoring, and personalized treatment make all the difference. Custom Bracing for Scoliosis remains one of the most effective tools we have to protect spinal alignment, preserve mobility, and help children avoid surgery during critical growth years.
At The Pediatric Orthopedic Center, families benefit from fellowship-trained pediatric spine specialists, advanced imaging with up to 96% less radiation, on-site orthotists, and a proven track record of non-surgical success.
If your child has been diagnosed with scoliosis—or if you’ve noticed signs such as uneven shoulders, posture changes, or asymmetry during growth spurts—now is the time to act. Early intervention creates options.
Schedule an appointment with The Pediatric Orthopedic Center today and partner with a team dedicated to protecting your child’s spine health—today and for the future.
