Alterations in vertebral growth following prolonged plaster immobilisation.

Long-term immobilisation in serial plasters for scoliosis, including the period of the adolescent growth spurt, leads to an increase in height of the vertebral bodies and a decrease of their height to width ratio. These changes are at the expense of the disc which is reduced in thickness. This stimulating effect on the vertebral body growth is probably due to the changes in mechanical factors.