Prosthetic and orthotic management in cancer rehabilitation

Abstract

Since the Japanese act against cancer was executed in 2007, attention has become focused on cancer rehabilitation. However, orthotic and prosthetic management and assistive technologies are not recognized as one of the cancer rehabilitation measures. We reviewed our clinical results regarding orthotic services for cancer patients at Kanagawa Cancer Center, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. For forty-two cancer patients, forty-nine orthoses, prostheses, and assistive technologies were prescribed from April 2016 to March 2017. For various impairments of various cancer patients, four lower extremity prostheses and 19 spinal orthoses, 15 lower extremity orthoses and 9 upper extremity orthoses and one walking aid and wheel chair were prescribed and utilized effectively. Prosthetists and orthotists will play an active role in cancer rehabilitation to regain human functioning of cancer survivors.