Summary of findings for the main comparison. Brace compared with observation (randomized controlled trial) for idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents.
| Brace compared with observation (randomized controlled trial) for idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents | ||||||
| Patient or population: adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis Settings: Intervention: brace Comparison: observation | ||||||
| Outcomes | Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI) | Relative effect (95% CI) | No of participants (studies) | Quality of the evidence (GRADE) | Comments | |
| Assumed risk | Corresponding risk | |||||
| Observation (RCT) | Brace | |||||
| Quality of life PedsQL scores1 Follow‐up: 2 years | The mean quality of life in the control groups was 83.0 ± 13.2 (0‐100)2 | The mean quality of life in the intervention groups was 2.1 lower (7.69 lower to 3.49 higher) | ‐ | 111 (1 study) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low3,4 | Higher scores indicating a better quality of life |
| Risk of success Curves remaining below 50° Follow‐up: 2 years | Study population | RR 1.79 (1.29 to 2.5) | 116 (1 study) | ⊕⊕⊝⊝ low5 | ‐ | |
| 415 per 1000 | 744 per 1000 (536 to 1000) | |||||
| Moderate | ||||||
| 415 per 1000 | 743 per 1000 (535 to 1000) | |||||
| Pulmonary disorders, disability, back pain, psychological issues, and cosmetic issues Subjective | Study population | Not estimable | 0 (0) | See comment | None of the included studies assessed these outcomes | |
| See comment | See comment | |||||
| Moderate | ||||||
| ‐ | ‐ | |||||
| Any adverse event Number of participants reporting at least 1 adverse event | See comment | See comment | Not estimable | 0 (0) | See comment | None of the included studies assessed this outcome |
| *The basis for the assumed risk (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). CI: confidence interval; PedsQL: Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory; RCT: randomized controlled trial; RR: risk ratio. | ||||||
| GRADE Working Group grades of evidence High quality: Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect. Moderate quality: Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate. Low quality: Further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate. Very low quality: We are very uncertain about the estimate. | ||||||
1 PedsQL, a generic quality‐of‐life instrument used in studies of acute and chronic illness (Varni 2001; Varni 2003).2 Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a better quality of life. 3 Unclear risk of selection bias for allocation concealment. 4 Only one study with 111 participants. 5 Only one study with 116 participants.