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MEET HAILEY
Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis
Hailey came to us at six months of age. She had been diagnosed with infantile idiopathic scoliosis; a condition where a curvature of the spine is detected between two months and three years of age.
Her physician prescribed a thoracolumbar brace to treat her spinal curvature which had already progressed to thirty-five degrees. Designing a brace for such a small body can be a significant challenge.
Hailey's brace would need to be designed in a way so as to be minimal in size, yet able to effectively apply pressure at specific points on the body promoting improvement of the spinal curvature. In order to address the unique challenges of developing Hailey's brace, we began with a cast of her torso. From this cast, we were able to design a custom brace that specifically fit Hailey's small frame while facilitating the straightening of her spine. In order to assess her progress, Hailey receives a series of x-rays of her spine.
The baseline x-ray shows the significant curve of Hailey's spine prior to receiving her brace. The next x-ray is taken while Hailey is wearing her brace. A marked improvement in the curvature of her spine is visible in this second view.
Finally, after Hailey has worn the brace for a duration of time, she receives a third x-ray without the brace. This final view shows that Hailey's spine is now almost straight. Through the series of x-rays, one can see that the brace has initiated the correction of the curve of Hailey's spine. As she grows, she will be monitored to ensure that the correction initiated with her current brace continues. View Hailey in her custom brace as well as her series of before and after x-rays in the included photos.
