THE USE OF THE ORTHOTIC RESEARCH AND LOCOMOTOR ASSESSMENT UNIT (ORLAU) PARAWALKER BY ADULT MYELOMENINGOCELE PATIENTS - A 7 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

There is a widely accepted perception that whereas many paediatric mye lomeningocele patients use walking orthoses effectively, very few cont inue to ambulate in adult life. A seven-year retrospective review of 3 1 patients for whom the ORLAU ParaWalker (2) was prescribed in Oswestr y showed that there was a 58% adult compliance rate. Of the 18 who con tinued walking the average age at supply was 11.28 years (range 5 to 2 4), average age at survey 22.61 yrs. (range 17 to 33) and the average period of use nas 11.33 yrs. (range 3 to 16). These results compare su rprisingly well with an ORLAU review of adult traumatic lesions who ha d a compliance rate of 63% and average follow-up of 2.87 years (12). T he ORLAU ParaWalker has been shown to be an efficient form of walking (1, 2) and this is considered an important feature in ensuring that ma ny adults can continue to take advantage of the proven therapeutic ben efits of walking (10). Notwithstanding, the adult compliance rate show n in this study lends strength to the case for a vigorous and efficien t walking programme in treating spina bifida children so as to promote the longer term health of the patient.