Michelle
Michelle, My heart is with you and your daughter. All I can offer is that the brace thus far has maintained the s-shaped curve in my daughter not to say that it will continue to do so. Surgery would be considered at 40 degrees. It sounds like they would like to try and maintain your daughters curves until the surgery. If you are in question, don't hesitate to ask your orthopedic doctor to explain why he wants her to continue with the brace if surgery is evident and ask if it is beneficial to her to try and maintain curves for the surgery. If it is, I would reconsider wearing the brace. The only info that I received that differs from yours is that progression of curves can be far greater than 1 degree a year.(could be as much as 1 degree per month depending on the growth and progression of curve in that child). There is no way to determine when or at what degree of rate a curve may progress in a growing child. They can only give you a percentage rate on "whether curves may progress" in a child depending on the age, degree of curves, and riser sign. My daughter is at 30 degress in each curve and has a 75% rate of progression. Xrays are taken every 4 months to check for progression because they cannot forsee that. Once again, I would talk with the Doctor and have him specifically tell you the need for the brace before surgery. It may be beneficial. I hope if in some way I may have helped. Fran