Differences of alterations by orthosis clinic during convalescent rehabilitation ward phase and during chronic phase

Abstract

In our hospital, follow-up after an orthosis has been made is also conducted by team care consisting mainly of a medical doctor, physiotherapist and prosthetist/orthotist (PO). This study was a retrospective review of medical records comparing the differences between 54 inpatients who received follow-up examinations at an orthosis clinic during hospitalization in our convalescent rehabilitation ward (convalescent phase group) and 47 outpatients who received examinations at an orthosis clinic in the chronic phase during the same period (chronic phase group). Alterations by the orthosis clinic were classified into “repair”, “correction of misfit”, “correction of foot part”, “adjustment”, and “no change”, and were compared between the two groups. In the convalescent phase group, the major alterations were “correction of foot part” and “adjustment”, and were made for the purpose of gait improvement. In the chronic phase group, the alterations shifted to “repair” and “correction of misfit”. These findings indicated that the opportunities for interventions provided by PO increased in the chronic phase. Currently, however, interventions are generally not adequately conducted, which is an issue to be addressed.