In September 2020, Spine Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Simon Gatehouse was awarded his QUT Masters of Philosophy degree for his work entitled, “Spinal deformity correlations with the use of EOS imaging in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients undertaking brace management”. Dr Gatehouse’s supervisors for his project were: Associate Professor Paige Little, Professor Peter Pivonka and Dr Caroline Grant.
His research project investigated the function of spinal bracing in treating scoliosis patients utilizing low dose bi-planar imaging (EOS imaging). Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis is an abnormal 3D curvature of the spine that appears in early adolescence, affecting 2-4% of 10 to 16 year olds. It is the most common spinal deformity in children. It becomes worse during the rapid growth phases that occur in adolescence. The aim of bracing in scoliosis treatment is to prevent curve progression into skeletal maturity and therefore the subsequent requirement for any type of surgical correction. Dr Gatehouse found in his study that bracing in scoliosis patients appeared to have been universally effective across his participants, though not in the anticipated manner of significant immediate curve correction in the brace.
