The Milwaukee brace in idiopathic scoliosis: evaluation of 123 completed cases.

ABSTRACT

The Milwaukee Brace, as evaluated in 123 completed cases, is effective in controlling and correcting mild to moderate idiopathic scoliotic curves. The factors contributing to more correction include dorsal location, younger patients at onset of treatment, more flexible curves, and most important cooperative patients and parents. Less severe curves also achieved greater correction. Loss of correction after brace discontinuance is negligible, due to the fact that weaning and discontinuance were based on the stability of correction after 24 unbraced hours. Patients cooperative with the wearing and exercise program can expect approximately 25 per cent correction in dorsal curves and 20 per cent correction in lumbar curves. Cosmetic improvement can be expected in the majority of patients. Complications are negligible.