Hadasit Back Brace

31st July 2007

An experimental back brace developed by Hadasit, the technology transfer company of Hadassah University Medical Centers, has shown positive results in treating scoliosis in a clinical trial.

Scoliosis, a complex 3-D deformation of the trunk, spine and rib cage, can cause pain, difficulty in movement and esthetic problems. The brace, said Dr. Naum Simanovsky of the pediatric orthopedic unit at Hadassah (who invented the device) is "the only dynamic treatment for scoliosis in development today."

Three groups of patients aged 12 to 15 were enrolled in the trial, which began in December 2005. Five had mild curves (20-25 degrees); 10 patients had moderate curves (25-39 degrees); and five had severe (more than 39 degrees) curves. The last group opted not to have surgery.

Of the 20 patients in the study, 14 experienced curve improvement or remained stable, meaning there was no further deterioration in the curvature of their spines. One mild patient, one moderate patient and two severe patients progressed to a more acute condition. Two severe patients opted out of the study.

"All of the currently used conservative non-invasive treatments are static. The Derotation Brace uses a dynamic derotation mechanism to create neutral rotational forces that reverse the rotation of the spine and help correct the scoliosis," said Simanovsky. The brace consists of two parts that allow for progressive derotation and the improvement of spinal balance in a three-dimensional direction.

An estimated six million Americans live with scoliosis, which can be caused by congenital, developmental or degenerative problems. However, most cases of this condition, which actually have no known cause, are classified as idiopathic scoliosis or adolescent scoliosis. This type afflicts around one percent of the population worldwide and accounts for between 80-90% of all scoliosis instances. Idiopathic scoliosis is known to cause both social and physical effects including an inability to breathe normally.

Hadasit was established as a subsidiary of Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) to promote and commercialize its intellectual property in the field of medicine. Hadasit guides technologies from innovation to commercial application.