Non-operative treatment of scoliosis in cerebral palsy: preliminary report on the use of a plastic jacket.

The use of a removable orthoplast jacket to treat scoliosis in 48 patients with cerebral palsy is described. Because of the short follow-up period - nine to 60 months - this paper reports preliminary findings only, but it is felt that the feasibility of conservative treatment of scoliosis in such patients has been demonstrated by the low incidence of complications and patient rejection, and its effectiveness has been shown by halting the progression of curvature in 38 of 41 patients followed for an average of 26 months.