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Bracing

Back braces can help with a number of back problems. For soft tissue injuries such as strains or sprains of the cervical or thoracolumbar spine, back braces can give patients a feeling of increased support. These braces are made of either semi-rigid or soft (elastic or neoprene) material, wrapped around the spine and usually secured with Velcro strips. They do not prevent further injuries or cure an existing injury. They are simply there to provide the patient some degree of comfort and reassurance with daily activities.

For specific back injuries, such as a compression fracture of the spine, a back brace helps to minimize motion and decrease pain while the bone is healing. These braces are often an extension type of brace, designed to minimize the amount of forward flexion that the back can perform and put less pressure on the compression fracture. They tend to be a more rigid brace, usually made of metal stays or rods, or hard plastic shells that are not easily bendable. Some patients may find the rigidity of the brace more uncomfortable than not having a brace at all. In this case the brace is discontinued, as the purpose of the brace is simply for comfort.

If a patient has a significant fracture, the spine surgeon may put a patient in a rigid brace that acts like a cast. This brace minimizes movement so the bone can heal and no neurologic damage occurs. For patients with spine fusion, they may be prescribed a brace to minimize movement and allow the fusion to heal.