Effect of the Tibia Counter Rotator Orthosis for Tibial Internal Torsion Children: A Preliminary Study

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of the tibia counter rotator orthosis for tibial internal torsion children. METHOD: The 16 limbs included in this study were both lower extremities of 6 subjects and unilateral ones of 4 subjects (7 female and 3 male), ranging in age from less than 3 year to 11 years. These subjects were diagnosed as in-toeing gait with tibial internal torsion and had no history of forefoot adductus or other musculoskeletal abnormality. Tibial torsion was evaluated by thigh-foot angle and computed tomography before and after applying the Tibia Internal Brace(R) (TIB(R)). RESULTS: Thigh-foot angle and computed tomography showed significant improvement of tibial internal torsion before and after applying the TIB(R) (p0.05). And there was no significant correlation between age and improvement of tibial internal torsion (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: TIB(R) was effective for in-toeing gait children with tibial internal torsion.