A new spinal brace for use in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Nine boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, chairbound but without scoliosis, were fitted with a recently developed brace of metal and moulded medium-density polyethylene, the modified Calot brace. Each was also fitted with a wrap-around, moulded leather jacket. Each brace held the relaxed lumbar spine in an angle of lordosis similar to that achieved by a brief active effort to sit erect without a brace. Over-all, they proved equally acceptable to patients and carers. The modified Calot brace caused substantially less restriction of pulmonary function and so may be preferable to the moulded leather jacket.
D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies