{"id":164749,"date":"2025-12-30T08:51:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T07:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pb.edu.pl\/2025\/12\/30\/gorset-ortopedyczny-lepiej-dopasowany-do-potrzeb-dziecka\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T08:17:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T07:17:05","slug":"orthopedic-brace-better-tailored-to-the-childs-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pb.edu.pl\/en\/2025\/12\/30\/orthopedic-brace-better-tailored-to-the-childs-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"Orthopedic Brace Better Tailored to the Child\u2019s Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"
An orthopedic brace better tailored to a child\u2019s needs \u2013 this is the result of an idea developed at Bialystok University of Technology by Piotr Mrozek, DSc, PhD, Eng. The special apparatus, in which the trunk correction is first applied before performing a 3D scan, has obtained Class I medical device status.<\/div>\n
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Often, a child\u2019s uneven shoulders or a protruding shoulder blade leads to a diagnosis: scoliosis. Along with it comes the information that, for the next several months\u2014or even years\u2014the child will need to wear an orthopedic brace. For a teenager, this is not just a medical device; it represents a change in daily life, appearance, and the way they function at school and among peers.<\/p>\n

From Plaster Casts to 3D Scanning<\/h4>\n

The experiences of such patients drew the attention of Piotr Mrozek, DSc, PhD, Eng., from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology. They inspired a new approach to the traditional method of designing braces.<\/p>\n

– We first correct the patient\u2019s trunk while they are positioned in our apparatus to restore proper spinal alignment, and only then do we take measurements, – explains Prof. Mrozek. – The patient is actively involved in the process and provides immediate feedback on the comfort of the correction, while we can observe the effect. Classical methods simply do not allow this.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The corrective apparatus, the key element of the ready-to-implement brace design system, has been granted Class I medical device status.<\/p>\n

Patient-Centered Approach<\/h4>\n

Traditional brace design relies on plaster casts to measure the trunk while the patient is in a relaxed position. Modern methods use 3D optical scanners, but the wet plaster process is time-consuming and uncomfortable for patients.<\/p>\n

– During adolescence, changes happen very quickly, – says Prof. Mrozek. – Children aged 10\u201313 can grow up to 10 cm in a year. Sometimes, two braces may be needed within that period. Any inaccuracies in measurement or initial brace geometry can affect the entire treatment process. For years, we observed how braces were made for children and adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis and saw how burdensome the process was for both patients and orthotic staff.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In collaboration with the Pediatric Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic of the L. Zamenhof University Children\u2019s Hospital in Bialystok and the \u201cSkoliort\u201d Orthopedic Supply Laboratory in Bialystok, Prof. Mrozek decided to rethink the process. The key question was: \u201cCan the sequence of actions be changed so that trunk correction is planned with the active participation of the patient?\u201d<\/p>\n

Active Patient Participation<\/h4>\n

In classical methods, trunk correction is planned after the fact, based on casts or scans. Patients do not participate in decisions about brace shape, pressure distribution, or tolerance until they try the almost finished brace.<\/p>\n

– We wanted to reverse this logic, – explains Prof. Mrozek. – To see if correction could be safely applied first, and only then gather data for the brace design. This transforms the patient from a passive recipient into an active participant in the design process.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This led to a medical experiment concept, with the patient\u2019s active participation as a central element. The study primarily involves patients aged 13\u201315 with idiopathic scoliosis. The procedure gradually applies trunk correction while monitoring comfort and tolerance limits. Adjustable elements of the apparatus reproduce the pressures on the trunk exactly as the finished brace will.<\/p>\n

Only after achieving the optimal trunk alignment is a 3D scan performed. The procedure takes approximately 15\u201320 minutes, with scanning lasting about two to three minutes. In this system, scanning is a consequence of correction, not the starting point. All actions are performed by a specialist from the orthopedic laboratory.<\/p>\n

– Patient feedback is very important to us,- emphasizes Prof. Mrozek. – Despite initial uncertainty, the new procedure does not cause negative reactions. The correction is applied gradually, and the patient can influence its extent. This reduces stress and provides data that were previously unavailable.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Tolerance to correction was found to be highly individual. For the designer, this information is invaluable, allowing better planning of brace geometry digitally. Classical methods lack such a step entirely.<\/p>\n

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