Issues of equipment for knee-ankle-foot orthoses in an acute hospital : Data from our hospital

Abstract

There have been increasing reports of the use of a knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) from the early stage of stroke, but KAFO used as hospital equipment (equipment KAFO) cannot be used due to the large circumference of the patient’s lower limb and the weight limit of equipment KAFO. In this study, we retrospectively examined the medical records of 45 stroke patients who had KAFOs made for them at our hospital from 2017 to January 2021, and examined the factors that prevented the use of equipment KAFOs. The results showed that 30 of the 45 patients were men, and the mean weight of the men was 69.6±15.7 kg. Of these, 12 (about 40%) were above the weight limit of the equipment KAFO. If a KAFO is needed in a stroke patient who is above the weight limit of the equipment KAFO, it is suggested that a KAFO for the patient should be made early.