Polly's x-rays show her curve before bracing treatment (left) and while wearing the LOC Scoliosis Brace (right)
10 June 2024
When she was 14 years old, Polly was trying on a dress for a party and her mother Zoe was helping her put it on. As Zoe tried to pull the zip at the back up, it pulled to one side which led Zoe to look at Polly’s back more closely. Zoe is a GP, so she immediately knew that her daughter had scoliosis.
There was no family history of the condition; Polly had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis which represents 80% of all scoliosis cases diagnosed in children. Zoe was able to get an appointment at the scoliosis clinic in Edinburgh reasonably quickly and the consultant confirmed the diagnosis.
X-rays were taken, and Polly had a curve of 27 degrees. They recommended a Boston brace, which is the standard brace used by the NHS; the problem was there would be a wait of a couple of months for fitting.
Zoe was quite aware that, in adolescence, starting treatment is time-critical because scoliotic curves are likely to get worse as a child goes through growth spurts. Zoe searched the internet and found the London Orthotic Consultancy. Although Zoe had rejected the brace offered by her consultant, he was happy for Zoe to seek private alternatives and Polly has remained under his care.
Zoe’s research included several scoliosis Facebook groups who were very positive about the London Orthotic Consultancy and she learnt about our over-corrective brace, the LOC Scoliosis Brace. Polly was more interested in the fact that the brace was slimmer fitting than the Boston brace. The clincher was that Zoe’s parents lived in Putney so a trip down to London was no issue. An initial virtual consultation was set up with Anna Courtney, LOC’s lead scoliosis clinician and creator of LOC’s scoliosis brace.
At the consultation, Zoe was amazed to be told that Polly could be measured and fitted with her brace in one day, which was duly arranged, and Polly’s bespoke brace was fitted (with her own choice of pattern) in January 2022. In fact, Polly was our first same-day scoliosis fitting patient.
Zoe says: “The whole process was seamless, Polly was measured in the morning and her bespoke brace fitted in the afternoon, quite a difference to the service offered by the NHS. I must admit, I did gasp when I saw Polly being fitted with her bespoke brace, it did look uncomfortable, but Polly is very resilient, and she was determined to avoid surgery at a later date. One thing we did notice immediately was that she grew a couple of centimetres overnight, presumably the result of enforcing a change in her posture and straightening her back.”
Once Polly had got used to her brace, she adhered to the wearing protocol as best she could, given the amount of sport she was playing. The brace and her condition were not something she hid from her school friends. As she is a flexi boarder and shares a bedroom with other pupils during the week, it would have been impossible anyway. Polly says: “They call my brace my ‘armour’!”
By June 2023, Polly could go on a nighttime-only regime – 10 pm-5 am and in November last year came out of the brace. She was discharged in February this year as she had reached Risser sign 4, meaning that she was skeletally mature and therefore her curve was very unlikely to progress any further. Her consultant is happy with the results of LOC’s treatment, and Zoe and Polly are, too.
Zoe says: “Anna has been fantastic, friendly, understanding, did not pull any punches about the wearing regime and gave us all the information we needed. Polly was in her brace for less than two years. LOC has provided a really incredible service.”
Adolescent male patient wearing a traditional Boston brace. Right: a bespoke LOC Scoliosis Brace on the same patient.
We offer a free virtual scoliosis appointment for those seeking scoliosis advice and treatment. This initial free virtual consultation is carried out through Skype, Facetime or Zoom.
During the appointment, you will have the opportunity to talk directly to one of our specialist clinicians about your child’s scoliosis. During this 15-minute appointment, your clinician will be able to answer any detailed questions or concerns you might have prior to booking a face-face assessment with us.
If your child has recently been diagnosed with scoliosis or you think they are showing signs of the condition, please get in touch to book an appointment today.
