Scoliosis Support Group

I'm sure many of you have heard about the scoliscore genetic profile test from Axial biotech. My test kits have just arrived and I've finished going through all the literature.....overall, I think it could prove to be very useful in the context of early stage scoliosis intervention/treatment.

The parameters for the test are as follows....
-Caucasian decent (They tell me other ethnic profiles will be available soon)
-Ages 9-13 (the will test up to 14 or 15 years of age if the patient hasn't reached skeletal maturity)
-Cobb angle B/W 10-25 degrees

Basically, the test compares the patients genetic markers against 53 other markers that have been identified as high risk from the profile of 1000's of patients whose curves progressed beyond 40 degrees before skeletal maturity. The more marker matches to the profile the higher the risk.

The list price of the test is a little steep ($2,900), but it is readily covered by insurance and they have financial assistance programs for those who qualify.

They claim the test is 99% accurate (seems a little too good to be true) at determining whether or not the curvature will reach surgical threshold (40-45 degrees) while the patient is skeletally immature. That is all it measures. A 15 degree curve could still progress to a 39 degree curve with a low risk on the scoliscore test.

Here is the real pay off in my mind. Patients who have a low or intermediate risk according to scoliscore don't even need to see an orthopedist for their condition. Plus, just think of the anxiety it will reduce for patients and parents alike....AND the x-ray monitoring schedule can be completely re-thought for low/intermediate risk cases vs. high risk cases.

A non-high risk scoliscore patient can be managed entirely with an active rehab program during the condition's early stages to minimize and reduce the risk and effect of the condition on body image/disfigurement.


Early stage scoliosis detection and intervention = The DEATH OF SPINAL BRACING.
Given the fact the bracing is only intended to reduce the "need" for surgery (with studies show it has no effect on) and that the 3-D CAT scans are finding the rigid braces probably are actually worsening the rib cage rotation (increasing the body disfigurement)......It would seem the days of back bracing are severely numbered.

Only 1% (the high risk group) should even consider spinal bracing......and even that is most likely a waste of time.
Posted on 11/01/09, 10:11 am