Paediatric Orthotics

Orthoses are externally applied medical devices used to prevent or correct musculoskeletal deformities and improve physical functioning; these devices are typically custom made. This is one of very few books on the subject of orthotics published in recent years and the only book focusing solely on the orthotic management of children.

The first part of the book considers the principles that are fundamental to orthotic management, including a review of biomechanics, consideration of clinical assessment methods, and the materials and fabrication techniques used to make orthoses. The second part of the book comprises several condition-specific chapters that consider the appropariate orthotic management of the more common conditions in childhood in the context of multidisciplinary care. The chapters include neuromuscular conditions such as cerebral palsy, myelomeningocoele and muscular dystrophy; and also congenital deformities and conditions arising in childhood. One chapter considers orthotic intervention for idiopathic scoliosis and another considers the sometimes controversial issue of protective and corrective headwear. Whilst by no means exhaustive, Paediatric Orthotics provides both a basic grounding in the subject together with practical guidance to help clinical practice.

Paediatric Orthotics will be of use, not only to orthotists but also to physical and occupational therapists, paediatricians, paediatric orthopaedic surgeons and physiatrists. The book is also essential reading for all students and clinicians involved in the physical management of children with disabilities.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 175

Christopher Morris (Editor)

Dr Morris is a Principal Orthotist at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and a MRC Special Training Fellow in Health Services Research in the Department of Public Health at the University of Oxford; and a Junior Research Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. Chris has 20 years experience working as an orthotist. After initially training and working with his father in London he came to work at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. He was involved in establishing the Oxford Gait Laboratory, and has been awarded Masters and Doctoral degrees by the University of Oxford. Chris is the current Chairman of the Trustees for the Orthotic Education and Training Trust in the UK and a member of the editorial board of Mac Keith Press.

Luciano Dias (Editor)

Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University & Medical Director, Motion Analysis Center, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, USA

AUTHORS' APPOINTMENTS vii
FOREWORD ix
1. INTRODUCTION 1
Christopher Morris
2. BIOMECHANICAL PRINCIPLES 4
Christopher Morris
3. ASSESSMENT 13
Christopher Morris, Nicholas Gryfakis, Michael El-Shammaa
and Luciano Dias
4. MATERIALS, COMPONENTS AND FABRICATION 28
Christopher Morris
5. UPPER-LIMB ORTHOSES 34
Nicole Parent-Weiss
6. LOWER-LIMB ORTHOSES 44
Christopher Morris
7. CONGENITAL DEFORMITIES 67
Christopher Morris and Luciano Dias
8. CONDITIONS ARISING IN CHILDHOOD 77
Christopher Morris and Luciano Dias
9. CEREBRAL PALSY 85
Christopher Morris
10. MUSCULAR DYSTROPHIES, SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHIES 101
AND PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHIES
Nicola Thompson, Steve Porter and Christopher Morris
11. MYELOMENINGOCOELE 119
Brigid Driscoll, Robert Novak and Luciano Dias
12. IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS 139
Paul Horwood
13. PROTECTIVE AND CORRECTIVE HEADWEAR 158
Sheila Kellner and Trevor da Silva
INDEX 172

'The text will be of greatest value to the orthotics student who is unfamiliar with the patient populations cited above and their orthotic management, and the more seasoned clinician with limited pediatric experience. One of the strengths of the text is its brevity, providing concise overviews of many populations, with practical guidelines for patient management.' - Phil Stevens, American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists, 2011