Orthosis use and ambulation in adults with myelomeningocele after orthotic management from childhood.
Marie Eriksson, Åsa Bartonek
PMID 37725508WHAT IT FOUND
Adults with myelomeningocele who received intensive orthotic management from childhood showed high rates of continued orthosis use and ambulation.
Orthosis types shifted frequently as patients grew, with most adults maintaining some form of mobility support.
Key findings
0178% of participants used orthoses in adulthood, compared to 100% at age 5 and 98% at age 12.
02Ambulatory function was present in 63% of adults, with community ambulation in 12 and household ambulation in 19.
03Orthosis changes were common during growth, with 58% changing their orthosis type or ceasing use between age 12 and adulthood.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Clinical measures were missing for 9 participants who were assessed via telephone and medical charts only. The study is retrospective and relies on historical data for childhood outcomes. The cohort is specific to those treated under a particular intensive orthotic program in Sweden, which may limit generalizability to other healthcare systems. No control group was included; comparisons were made to historical cohorts.
Declared interests
The authors disclosed no potential conflicts of interest. The research was supported by Norrbacka-Eugenia Foundation Sweden, NEURO Sweden, and Stiftelsen Skobranschens Utvecklingsfond Sweden.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high rate of orthosis use in childhood as a guarantee of continued use in adulthood. Nearly half of the participants changed their orthosis type or stopped using them between age 12 and adulthood, often due to deteriorating ambulation or changing functional needs.