Re-prescription of ankle foot orthosis for chronic stroke patients in Yokohama City

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the current state of ankle foot orthosis (AFO) in re-prescription in chronic stroke patients. In Yokohama City 319 stroke patients were re-prescribed AFO under the Comprehensive Service and Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act between October, 2017 and September, 2018. We retrospectively investigated the period to re-prescription and changes in the type of AFO. Fifty-seven (17.2%) changed the type of AFO, the median period to re-prescribing was 49 months (range 15-300), and 33 (17.2%) AFOs had been prescribed more than 10 years earlier. These results suggested that the types of AFO were changed at a relatively high rate even in the chronic stroke patients, and that the follow-up of the orthosis may not be sufficiently performed.