Article

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) for correction of dropped foot
has been shown to increase mobility, reduce the incidence of falls and to improve
quality of life. This study aimed to determine how long the intervention is of
benefit, and the total cost of its provision. DESIGN: Retrospective review of
medical records. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and twenty-six people with spastic
dropped foot (62 stroke, 39 multiple sclerosis, 7 spinal cord injury, 3 cerebral
palsy, 15 others) who began treatment in the year 1999. METHOD: All received
common peroneal nerve stimulation, producing dorsiflexion and eversion time to
the swing phase of gait using a heel switch. Device usage, 10 m walking speed and
Functional Walking Category (FWC) were recorded. RESULTS: The median time of FES
use was 3.6 years (mean 4.9, standard deviation 4.1, 95% confidence interval
4.2-5.6) with 33 people still using FES after a mean of 11.1 years. People with
stroke walked a mean of 45% faster overall, including a 24% training effect with
52% improving their FWC. People with multiple sclerosis did not receive a
consistent training effect but walked 29% faster when FES was used with 40%
increasing their FWC. The average treatment cost was pound3,095 per patient
resulting in a mean cost per Quality Adjusted Life Years of pound15,406.
CONCLUSION: FES is a practical, long-term and cost-effective treatment for
correction of dropped foot.
Drop foot - Pied flottant

Langue : ANGLAIS