To Brace or Not to Brace - A Report About Orthotic Use in the Pediatric Orthopaedic Community

Purpose: Certain pediatric conditions of the lower extremity are self-limiting and have no known long-term prognostic effects. The Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) have guidelines regarding the use of orthotics for lower limb pathologies, but it is unknown whether these guidelines are adhered to. Additionally, we sought to evaluate the reasoning and frequency of why POSNA members are prescribing braces to patients. Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire was sent to all POSNA members (n=1402). The survey assessed provider experience, how often they prescribed orthotics and why …