Biomaterial Database

Ambulation with the reciprocating-gait orthosis. Experience in 15 children with myelomeningocele or paraplegia. 1997

C L Gerritsma-Bleeker, and M Heeg, and H Vos-Niël

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.

We reviewed 15 children with spina bifida or paraplegia who have used a reciprocating-gait orthosis between 1985 and 1995. All were nonfunctional ambulators. The level of the spinal lesions ranged from Th10 to L3. The mean age of fitting the orthosis was 5 years. 8 children have stopped using it at an average age of 10 years. The maximum ambulation level with the orthosis was a community ambulator in 4 children, household ambulator in 9 children and 2 remained nonfunctional ambulators. The average daily use was 6 hours by community ambulators to 0.5 hours nonfunctional ambulators. Bilateral dislocations of the hip, mild flexion deformities of the hips and knees and scoliosis were well tolerated with orthotic wear. Since functional ambulation could be achieved in 6 children with no quadriceps power, the use of this orthosis can be advocated for upper lumbar and low thoracic lesions. Strong motivation, realistic goals and expectations, the ability to participate in a training program and journeys for frequent orthosis repairs are of importance for successful use of this orthosis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008124	Locomotion	Movement or the ability to move from one place or another. It can refer to humans, vertebrate or invertebrate animals, and microorganisms.	Locomotor Activity,Activities, Locomotor,Activity, Locomotor,Locomotor Activities
D009989	Orthotic Devices	Apparatus used to support, align, or augment the functioning of parts of the body.	Orthoses,Orthosis,Parapodium,Device, Orthotic,Devices, Orthotic,Orthose,Orthotic Device,Parapodiums
D010264	Paraplegia	Severe or complete loss of motor function in the lower extremities and lower portions of the trunk. This condition is most often associated with SPINAL CORD DISEASES, although BRAIN DISEASES; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES; and MUSCULAR DISEASES may also cause bilateral leg weakness.	Paralysis, Lower Extremities,Paraplegia, Spastic,Spastic Paraplegia,Paralysis, Legs,Paralysis, Lower Limbs,Paraplegia, Ataxic,Paraplegia, Cerebral,Paraplegia, Flaccid,Paraplegia, Spinal,Ataxic Paraplegia,Ataxic Paraplegias,Cerebral Paraplegia,Cerebral Paraplegias,Flaccid Paraplegia,Flaccid Paraplegias,Paraplegias,Paraplegias, Ataxic,Paraplegias, Cerebral,Paraplegias, Flaccid,Paraplegias, Spastic,Paraplegias, Spinal,Spastic Paraplegias,Spinal Paraplegia,Spinal Paraplegias
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012189	Retrospective Studies	Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons.	Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D012600	Scoliosis	An appreciable lateral deviation in the normally straight vertical line of the spine. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Scolioses
D016135	Spinal Dysraphism	Congenital defects of closure of one or more vertebral arches, which may be associated with malformations of the spinal cord, nerve roots, congenital fibrous bands, lipomas, and congenital cysts. These malformations range from mild (e.g., SPINA BIFIDA OCCULTA) to severe, including rachischisis where there is complete failure of neural tube and spinal cord fusion, resulting in exposure of the spinal cord at the surface. Spinal dysraphism includes all forms of spina bifida. The open form is called SPINA BIFIDA CYSTICA and the closed form is SPINA BIFIDA OCCULTA. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch55, p34)	Rachischisis,Spina Bifida,Status Dysraphicus,Cleft Spine,Open Spine,Schistorrhachis,Spinal Dysraphia,Bifida, Spina,Cleft Spines,Dysraphia, Spinal,Dysraphicus, Status,Dysraphism, Spinal,Dysraphisms, Spinal,Open Spines,Rachischises,Spina Bifidas,Spinal Dysraphias,Spinal Dysraphisms,Spine, Cleft,Spine, Open