The study evaluated hand over knowledge and skill product orthosis and prosthesis for disabled people at communite acording to appropriate technology and evaluated quanlity of orthotics and prostheties, evaluated the effectiveness of them according to appropriate technology for disabled people in 17 last years. The result showed that: evaluating 192 community workers about knowledge for orthosis and prosthesis. There is about 70,83% in good mark, 24,41% in average, 4,76% in bad. 167/202 (82,67%) in control group were in bad mark. The different between 2 groups was significant. Price of the tool is cheap, quality of it is good. Rate of exercise improvement in 316 disabled people is 83,07% (control group is 7,38%).
Orthotic Devices ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rehabilitation

Genu recurvatum has commonly treated by Ilizarov devices, and treatment with an orthosis has rarely been reported. A 54 month old girl visited our hospital because of left knee hyperextension. The overall imbalance of the quadriceps with the hamstring muscles created 25 degrees of hyperextension. So we applied a knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) for treatment. After six months, the plain radiograph show 2 degrees hyperextension and stabilization of the knee. Genu recurvatum can be treated with an orthosis in a patient with imbalanced quadriceps and a hamstring muscle problem.
Humans ; Knee ; Muscles ; Orthotic Devices

Until now because there are many published journals with a variety of opinions so I will stratify these articles by giving weighted value on grade evaluation which depend on each institution (written author and co-authors) and external evaluate status (SCI, SCIE, impact factor) rather than the outcomes provided by each article. Consequently, before evaluating publicized papers, study quality assessment of each interesting paper should be performed by mean of gauging the quality of evidence. Reviewing these articles, a grade of medical literature was divided into the following 5 levels as level I (randomized controlled study), level II (non-randomized controlled study), level III (case-control study), level IV (case series), and level V (expert opinions). However, in present article I concluded only involved medical literatures with weighted value of level I and II evidence.
Adolescent* ; Braces ; Humans ; Orthotic Devices ; Scoliosis*

Transarticular screw fixation augmented with interspinous wiring technique for atlantoaxial instability was analyzed to provide immediate multidirectional rigid fixation and increase likelihood of fusion of C1-2 for atlantoaxial instability in several biomechanical studies. Transarticular screw fixation eliminates anterior, posterior translation at C1-2 and reduce flexion and extension movement. 13 patients with atlantoaxial instability were operated with posterior atlantoaxial facet screws fixation augmented with an interspinous C1-2 strut graft and posterior wire fixation technique. One patient died postoperatively from cardiac problem. All surviving patients restored C1-2 alignment and stability without complication due to instrumentation and osseous unions have developed even 2 cases of screw breakage developed. This technique was analyzed to be superior to wiring or clamp fixation biomechanically and leads to success without external orthosis in several series. But precaution is needed to avoid the vertebral artery injury.
Humans ; Orthotic Devices ; Transplants ; Vertebral Artery

C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation has been a preferred method for the fixation of atlantoaxial subluxation caused by the rheumatoid arthritis or recurrent subluxation caused by postoperative non-union. However, it has required extensive occipitocervical fusion or rigid external orthoses such as halo brace after cable fixation especially when the patient has the prominent transverse foramen precluding the safe placement of the C1-C2 transarticular screw. The author applied a pair of Halifax interlaminar clamps from C1 to C3 following the C1-C2 cable fixation in one patient with rheumatoid atlantoaxial subluxation and the other with recurrent subluxation after postoperative non-union. The prominent transverse foramen in both patients precluded the safe passage of the C1-C2 transarticular screw. Both patients were maintained in semirigid external orthoses by using philadelphia collar for 3 months after surgery. One has been doing well for 1 year and the other for 5 months following surgery. In conclusion, the application of the Halifax interlaminar clamps from C1 to C3 in addition to the C1-C2 cable fixation can be a useful alternative procedure circumventing extensive occipitocervical fusion for patients with the prominent transverse foramen precluding the safe placement of the C1-C2 transarticular screw, thereby not sacrificing the motion between occiput and atlas.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Braces ; Humans ; Orthotic Devices

Fractures of C1 are not uncommon, constituting only 10% of all cervical spine injuries. There is a high prevalence of concomitant fractures of the second and first cervical vertebral complex. Surgical treatment is controversal. Mainstay of treatment is various combination of traction and cervical orthosis according to degree of displacement and location of fracture. We experienced unusual type of fracture, anterior arch fracture of C1 who had a history of total laminectomy of C1,2 due to cervical cord tumor(neurilemmoma arising from C2 root). We performed C1,2 lateral mass screw fixation with posterior fusion with good postoperative outcome.
Laminectomy ; Orthotic Devices ; Prevalence ; Spine ; Traction

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a knee-ankle-foot orthosis powered by artificial pneumatic muscles (PKAFO). METHODS: Twenty-three hemiplegic patients (age, 59.6+/-13.7 years) were assessed 19.7+/-36.6 months after brain lesion. The 10-m walking time was measured as a gait parameter while the individual walked on a treadmill. Walking speed (m/s), step cycle (cycle/s), and step length (m) were also measured on a treadmill with and without PKAFO, and before and after gait training. Clinical parameters measured before and after gait training included Korean version of Modified Bathel Index (K-MBI), manual muscle test (MMT), and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) of hemiplegic ankle. Gait training comprised treadmill walking for 20 minutes, 5 days a week for 3 weeks at a comfortable speed. RESULTS: The 10-m walking time, walking speed, step length, and step cycle were significantly greater with PKAFO than without PKAFO, and after gait training (both p<0.05). K-MBI was improved after gait training (p<0.05), but MMT and MAS were not. CONCLUSION: PKAFO may improve gait function in hemiplegic patients. It can be a useful orthosis for gait training in hemiplegic patients.
Ankle ; Brain ; Gait ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Muscles ; Orthotic Devices* ; Stroke* ; Walking

Brace is one of the most commonly used interventions to manage osteoporotic vertebral fracture. However, its authentic effectiveness remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of brace in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. We conducted a literature review and meta-analysis following the guideline and handbook of the Cochrane collaboration. Ten published articles were included in this study and data from 4 randomized controlled trials were analyzed. Low quality evidence proved using Spinomed brace could bring large and significant beneficial effect to patients with sub-acute osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Very low quality evidence proved no significant difference between Spinomed orthosis, rigid brace and soft brace when they were used in patients with acute fractures. Therefore, it might be applicable to recommend middle term use of Spinomed orthosis to patients with subacute fracture. In addition, this study emphasized the need for high quality randomized controlled trials.
Braces* ; Cooperative Behavior ; Humans ; Orthotic Devices ; Osteoporosis ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a shoulder sling on balance in patients with hemiplegia. METHODS: Twenty-seven hemiplegic stroke patients (right 13, left 14) were enrolled in this study. The subjects' movement in their centers of gravity (COGs) during their static and dynamic balance tests was measured with their eyes open in each sling condition-without a sling, with Bobath's axillary support (Bobath sling), and with a simple arm sling. The percent times in quadrant, overall, anterior/posterior, and medial/lateral stability indexes were measured using a posturography platform (Biodex Balance System SD). Functional balance was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale and the Trunk Impairment Scale. All balance tests were performed with each sling in random order. RESULTS: The COGs of right hemiplegic stroke patients and all hemiplegic stroke patients shifted to, respectively, the right and posterior quadrants during the static balance test without a sling (p<0.05). This weight asymmetry pattern did not improve with either the Bobath or the simple arm sling. There was no significant improvement in any stability index during either the static or the dynamic balance tests in any sling condition. CONCLUSION: The right and posterior deviations of the hemiplegic stroke patients' COGs were maintained during the application of the shoulder slings, and there were no significant effects of the shoulder slings on the patients' balance in the standing still position.
Arm ; Gravitation ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Orthotic Devices ; Postural Balance ; Shoulder* ; Stroke*

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effect of a TLSO brace treatment for the correction of axial rotational deformities in idiopathic scoliosis. SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: A TLSO brace treatment is effective in correcting 2-dimensional deformities of idiopathic scoliosis but is questionable in axial rotational deformities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty three cases treated by bracing in March, 1999~February, 2005 at our department were reviewed. The posteroanterior and lateral radiographs were checked in the standing position throughout the study. The change in axial rotational deformity were analyzed using Nash & Moe method and Perdriolle's method. RESULTS: The rotational deformity had improved in 2 curves, was aggravated in 8 curves, and showed no change in 43 curves with the TLSO brace. CONCLUSIONS: The TLSO brace treatment in axial rotational deformity of idiopathic scoliosis is not effective in correcting the rotational deformity but is effective in preventing the progress of a rotational deformity.
Braces ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Orthotic Devices ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis