Clinical use of Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis for patients with stroke:

A Scoping Review

Abstract

Purpose: The Stroke Treatment Guidelines 2021, Physical Therapy Guidelines (2nd Edition), and existing clinical studies have not adequately elucidated the efficacy of Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis (KAFO). This study aims to conduct a Scoping Review to assess the clinical utility of KAFO for patients with stroke.

Methods: Six distinct databases were meticulously harnessed for the purpose of retrieving study reports, spanning until the terminus of March 2022. We included studies that included a description of KAFO for patients with stroke. Furthermore, interventional studies, inclusive of randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials, and observational inquiries, notably cohort studies and cross-sectional investigations, were subjected to consideration for incorporation.

Results: The obtained findings revealed an assemblage of 873 subjects who availed themselves of KAFO, culminating in the amalgamation of 20 articles. Predominantly, these reports featured data pertaining to the early subacute phase, with a preponderance emphasizing the utilization of KAFO in cases characterized by severe or moderate motor paralysis. Although prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials remained conspicuous by their absence, a compendium of five reports substantiated the efficaciousness of KAFO.

Conclusion: Presently, determining the appropriate stage of disease, severity of paralysis, and optimal utilization of KAFO remains challenging. The existing literature lacks conclusive evidence to address these factors.