Introduction: Scoliosis that develops as a result of a muscular imbalance is defined as neuromuscular scoliosis. Its medical treatment is a complex process, in which a multidisciplinary approach is the most appropriate. The goal of conservative treatment in a patient with cerebral palsy is to improve sitting stability and reduce spinal curvature, which is achieved with the combination of using spinal orthosis and an adaptive seating system in a wheelchair. Purpose: To describe the measurement and fabrication of a custom-made thoracolumbosacral orthosis suitable for a patient with cerebral palsy and neuromuscular scoliosis, and to do a review of literature from this field to determine the successfulness of treatment with thoracolumbosacral orthosis combined with an adaptive seating system in a wheelchair. Methods: Using the descriptive method, we reviewed recent domestic and foreign literature, written in Slovene or English, and described the procedure of measurement and fabrication of a thoracolumbosacral orthosis, which was made based on observing an engineer of orthotics and prosthetics at work. Results: In the review of literature, we used 15 articles related to the conservative treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis. Furthermore, we also described in detail the technical procedure of fabricating the thoracolumbosacral orthosis, which is the most commonly used spinal orthosis for the orthotic treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis. With the help of the articles, we found that orthotic treatment is quite successful in the early treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis. Discussion and conclusion: It is important to begin treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis in the patients with cerebral palsy as soon as possible, since it is easier to manage the curves that are not yet rigid. The combination of spinal orthotics and a custom wheelchair seating is successful to some extent, as this depends on the extent of the curve and the possible progression of the scoliosis in case surgical treatment will be necessary. Further research on this topic would be needed to help develop our discipline.
|