[Personal experience with the Milwaukee orthosis in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis].

The authors evaluate the results of treatment of idiopathic scoliosis by a Milwaukee brace in 192 patients with treatment initiated and terminated in 1975 to 1985. In the group of 116 juvenile scolioses at the end of the investigation 26 had improved, 53 did not improve and 37 deteriorated. In the group of adolescent scoliosis 18 improved, 44 did not improve and 11 deteriorated. In the group of improved patients the number of persons declines with the time interval after completed treatment. With the increasing severity of the initial curve the effect of treatment by a brace diminishes. The percentage of non-cooperating patients is substantially higher in the group of not improved and deteriorated cases. In 26 selected patients the authors investigated the lordosis-promoting effect of the brace on the thoracic spine. Because of progression of the deformity the authors operated 12 patients with juvenile and one patients with adolescent scoliosis.