Abstract
This study reports the outcome of the orthosis therapy for the lumbar spinal stenosis. Patients were provided with a semi-rigid Williams-type flexion orthosis and asked to return for the follow-up evaluation at least one year after the initiation of therapy. Forty-eight patients (30 men and 18 women with an average age of 65.5 years) reported no improvement. These patients reported other complications; they tended to be those with other complications, such as spasticity and had a backgrounds suggesting mental instability. There was no clear significant difference regarding a patient's background and the results of their radiographs. The author found that patients required detailed instruction and follow up in order for the prescribed course of orthosis treatment to be successful. In addition, in order to achieve a higher degree of patient satisfaction, the author recommends the development of the orthosis devices that can be more readily used, flexible and easier to maintain in order to retain their shape. Materials that allow maintenance of the shape is also important.
