Benefits from using an ankle-foot orthosis in children with myelomeningocele

Résumé

Myelomeningocele (MMC) or spina bifida is a defect of the neural tube in which the spinal cord, its envelopes (meninges), and vertebral arches develop abnormally in the beginning of gestation, and owing to this failure of closure there appear a series of congenital defects and associated comorbidies, impairing in several aspects the functioning of the life of children with MMC. The congenital clubfoot has been found the most common orthopaedic anomaly in patients
with MMC. The ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is an orthopaedic device commonly used by these children to minimize the sequelae caused by this anomaly. Objective: Identify the functional benefits brought about by the use of the AFO to children with MMC, as reported by their guardians. Method: Descriptive, transversal study. Convenience sample consisting of 25 guardians of children with MMC who were using/had used an AFO. Results: Eighty percent of the guardians have reported at least one benefit brought about by the use of the
AFO, among them: improvement in foot position (68%), foot growth (40%), improvement in foot balance (32%), and balance sitting position (15%). Conclusion: The use of the AFO by children with MMC can provide several benefits reported by their guardians.