A clinical review of adult paraplegic patients with complete lesions using the ORLAU ParaWalker

A clinical review of 50 adult patients with high level complete spinal lesions, for whom the ORLAU ParaWalker had been prescribed, was undertaken at routine clinical follow-up visits using a questionnaire. The patients had an average age of 31.7 years, an average weight of 68.8 kg, an average height of 1.74 m and 78% had a complete lesion at T9 or above. With an average follow-up period of 34.4 months (min 7 months), 64% were continuing to use the device on a regular basis and more than 78% of those who responded had achieved complete independence. Analysis of the results provides further evidence that the ORLAU ParaWalker is a clinically viable routine treatment for appropriate paraplegic patients with complete mid-thoracic lesions. The need for more precise clinical criteria to further improve the rate of long term use was identified.