ORTHOTIC WRITTEN SIM – SPINE QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026/2027
Boston Brace: apices for treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -T6-L3
Lumbar curve apices - CORRECT ANSWER -L2 and inferior
Thoraco-lumbar curve apices - CORRECT ANSWER -T12 and L1
Thoracic curve apices - CORRECT ANSWER -T6 through and including T11
What position should the lumbar spine be in during scanning/casting? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Slight flexion
Range of magnitude qualifying as thoracic hypokyphosis - CORRECT ANSWER -0-20
degrees
Ways to address hypokyphosis in a TLSO? - CORRECT ANSWER -Avoid wrapping
thoracic pad posterior, give space in posterior thoracic aspect of brace, posterior
superior extensions of the posterior uprights (rabbit ears, hypokyphosis modification)
What level curves are treated with the Boston Lumbar Brace? - CORRECT ANSWER -L2
and below
What level curves are treated with the Boston Thoraco-Lumbar Brace? - CORRECT
ANSWER -T10 through and including L1
, What level curves are treated with the Boston Thoracic Brace? - CORRECT ANSWER -T6
through and including T10
At what level should the iliac crest rolls be placed? - CORRECT ANSWER -L2-L3
What should the width of the posterior opening of the scoliosis brace be? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Equal to the width of the widest lumbar vertebra -- typically L5 (half of this
width on either side of the center sacral line)
What defines the levels of the axilla extension for a Boston brace? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Most superior level: most superior vertebra tilting into the concavity of the thoracic
curve (threshold of ~T5)
Most inferior level: rib corresponding to one vertebral level superior to the thoracic null
point
Where is the trochanter pad placed? - CORRECT ANSWER -On the side that L5 tilts
toward
What defines the levels of the thoracic pad for a Boston brace? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Most superior level: rib of null vertebra of thoracic curve
Most inferior level: at the iliac crest roll
What defines the levels of the lumbar pad for a Boston brace? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Most superior level: null vertebra of lumbar curve
Most inferior level: last vertebra tilted toward the lumbar curve's convexity
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026/2027
Boston Brace: apices for treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -T6-L3
Lumbar curve apices - CORRECT ANSWER -L2 and inferior
Thoraco-lumbar curve apices - CORRECT ANSWER -T12 and L1
Thoracic curve apices - CORRECT ANSWER -T6 through and including T11
What position should the lumbar spine be in during scanning/casting? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Slight flexion
Range of magnitude qualifying as thoracic hypokyphosis - CORRECT ANSWER -0-20
degrees
Ways to address hypokyphosis in a TLSO? - CORRECT ANSWER -Avoid wrapping
thoracic pad posterior, give space in posterior thoracic aspect of brace, posterior
superior extensions of the posterior uprights (rabbit ears, hypokyphosis modification)
What level curves are treated with the Boston Lumbar Brace? - CORRECT ANSWER -L2
and below
What level curves are treated with the Boston Thoraco-Lumbar Brace? - CORRECT
ANSWER -T10 through and including L1
, What level curves are treated with the Boston Thoracic Brace? - CORRECT ANSWER -T6
through and including T10
At what level should the iliac crest rolls be placed? - CORRECT ANSWER -L2-L3
What should the width of the posterior opening of the scoliosis brace be? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Equal to the width of the widest lumbar vertebra -- typically L5 (half of this
width on either side of the center sacral line)
What defines the levels of the axilla extension for a Boston brace? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Most superior level: most superior vertebra tilting into the concavity of the thoracic
curve (threshold of ~T5)
Most inferior level: rib corresponding to one vertebral level superior to the thoracic null
point
Where is the trochanter pad placed? - CORRECT ANSWER -On the side that L5 tilts
toward
What defines the levels of the thoracic pad for a Boston brace? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Most superior level: rib of null vertebra of thoracic curve
Most inferior level: at the iliac crest roll
What defines the levels of the lumbar pad for a Boston brace? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Most superior level: null vertebra of lumbar curve
Most inferior level: last vertebra tilted toward the lumbar curve's convexity
