Education Resource Committee

Ron El-Hawary
Chair

The Education Resource Committee (ERC) is coming off a very productive 2020-21 year and is now revamping our efforts for 2022! Currently, all content from the SRS E-Text has been revised by SRS members and is in the process of being uploaded into the 10 core curriculum domains on the ERC website.

Research Grant Committee

Mitsuru Yagi, MD, PhD.
Committee Chair

The research grant committee received nine letter of interests for the newly created SRS directed research grant from Europe, North America, and Asian countries. The scope of SRS directed research is the long-term outcomes of operative and/or non-operative treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis followed into adulthood.

Carol Wise
RPOC Chair

Ever wonder what research is supported by the Scoliosis Research Society, and what we have learned from it? The Research Program and Oversight Committee, or “RPOC”, is charged with answering these questions and with raising awareness of the “return on investment” of SRS-funded research.

Frank McManus, FRCSI,
1942-2020

Marr P. Mullen, MD
1929 – 2020

Robert J. Weierman MD
1942-2021

December 2021

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Non-Operative Committee

Kei Watanabe
â€‹Committee Member

On November 7, eight panelists represented the SRS Non-Operative Committee and the Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT) on a webinar that was an update on the value of bracing in both adult and adolescent scoliosis patients. The webinar was very well attended with more than 500 viewers logged in at one point and over 700 total registered. Watch the replay now.

The webinar consisted of 4 sections:

First section addressed clinical practice of bracing for adult patients with spinal deformity by Lloyd A. Hey (MD, MS) and Fabio Zaina (MD). Brace treatment for adult spinal deformity is amenable to relieve back or radicular pain and improve walking status by postural change, whereas preventive effect on deformity progression remains uncertain, and thus need to be further investigated.
Second section addressed best practice guidelines for brace treatment of Idiopathic scoliosis by Orthotists by Luke Stikeleather (CO) and Physicians by Michael L. Schmitz (MD). Specialization hospital can be established by educational training and getting experience for team members, and multidisciplinary approach by a specialized team including MD, CO, PT, parents and patient can enhance treatment outcomes.
Third section addressed European bracing practice, especially focused on new Rigo-Cheneau brace, by Stefano Negrini (MD), John Tunney (BOCPO) and Nigel J. Price (MD). Rigo-Cheneau brace was developed as anterior opening construction by 3D concept and increased expansion rooms based on 3 clinical criteria (A1-A3), which can achieve more than 50% in-brace correction.
Forth section addressed United States bracing practice focused on Boston 3-D brace by James Wynne (CPO) and M. Timothy Hresko (MD). Boston 3-D brace was developed as anterior/posterior opening construction by 3D concept, custom fabricated from scan and CAD modifications, which also can achieve more than 50% in-brace correction. Finally, new technology of dynamic brace was introduced by David L. Skaggs (MD). New dynamic brace might provide more correction over time from adjusting force and better compliance from trunk mobility in brace.

As next assignments, the SRS Non-Operative Committee will make efforts to provide essential information about efficacy of new 3-D brace or flexible brace as well as other options such as physiotherapy for both pediatric and adult scoliosis patients, and contribute to enhance better outcomes of conservative treatment for patients and parents.

Committee: Brian G. Smith, Chair, Kei Watanabe, Eric C. Parent, Luke Stikeleather, Michael Horan, Tom Schlosser, Walter Truong, Claudio Vergari, Terry Zhang, Eugenio Dema, Chair Elect, Shyam Kishan, Chris Yin Wei Chan, Jason Cheung, Samuel Joseph, Lael Luedtke, Theodoros B. Grivas, Advisory, Joseph P. O’Brien - Advisory