Orthotic survey. Preliminary results

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Biomechanics
• Podiatric Medicine
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Prescription foot orthoses are widely used to manage various lower limb conditions.
• Assessing patient satisfaction and functional effectiveness is crucial for clinical practice optimization.
• Limited large-scale data exists on patient-reported outcomes for custom-fitted orthoses across diverse conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient satisfaction and the effectiveness of custom-fitted prescription foot orthoses.
• To assess the impact of orthoses on symptom resolution and the need for surgical intervention.
• To identify areas for improvement in orthotic prescription, design, and manufacturing.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide survey was conducted involving 520 patients fitted with prescription foot orthoses.
• Patients were evaluated over a 14-week period.
• The survey encompassed a broad range of medical conditions, not limited to a single diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Patient satisfaction and the final fit of custom-fitted orthoses were rated as excellent.
• Orthotic effectiveness varied, with chief complaints completely resolved in 62.5% of cases and unresolved in 4.7%.
• Foot orthoses were found to reduce or delay the need for surgery, particularly for hallux valgus and hammer toe.

Conclusions:

• Custom-fitted prescription foot orthoses demonstrate high patient satisfaction and significant effectiveness.
• Orthoses offer a viable conservative treatment option, potentially mitigating surgical interventions.
• Further research is recommended to enhance clinical practice, patient quality of life, cost-effectiveness, and orthotic design.