Follow-up study of Milwaukee brace treatment in patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

Milwaukee brace treatment for patients with idiopathic scoliosis very rarely accomplishes improvement approaching that of successful surgery. Prpgression of small and medium-sized curves (60 degrees or less) has been routinely halted. Few curves progress with adequate brace treatment. Occasionally, improvement in deformity and curve measurement is significant, but loss of improvement seems to be gradual and almost uniformly present to some degree after cessation of treatment. A much longer follow-up period will be necessary if the improvement seen with Milwaukee brace treatment can be considered "permanent." Milwaukee brace treatment is effective in skeletally immature patients with small, flexible and nondeforming curves. Corrective surgery is recommended for deforming curves in all patients for whom permanent improvement is the goal.