MULTI-ADJUSTABLE POSTOPERATIVE ORTHOSIS FOR CONGENITAL MUSCULAR TORTICOLLIS

A multi-adjustable torticollis orthosis is described for the post-oper ative bracing of patients after surgical correction of congenital musc ular torticollis. The orthosis can be put on in the early post-operati ve period and the head and neck position can be maintained in the corr ected, and later over-corrected position by the built-in multi-adjusta ble joint-mechanism. The details of the manufacturing are described. T wenty-five patients (13 girls and 12 boys) from age 1 to 22 with conge nital muscular torticollis were fitted with the orthosis post-operativ ely for an average duration of 10 weeks. Satisfactory compliance with the orthosis was found in 23 cases. Complications were minimal (3 case s) and were related to scalp irritation which improved after minor adj ustments of the halo.