The 2014 Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics (ACPOC) Annual Meeting was held March 5–8 at the Disney Paradise Pier Hotel, Anaheim, California. The event provided collaborative discussions by a spectrum of healthcare team members through presentations, workshops, and exhibitor demonstrations.
Orthosis-related topics were well represented. This year saw the return of an entire session dedicated to spina bifida, which included a presentation by Samuel R. Rosenfeld, MD, “Transitioning Spina Bifida Patients from Pediatric Rehabilitation Goals to Adult Rehabilitation Purpose.” Over the past few years, ACPOC has encouraged its members to remain cognizant of the fact that the children with whom they are working grow into adulthood and often transition away from hospitals and clinics that have a purely pediatric focus. Sessions on the trunk and spine addressed chest wall anomalies as well as varying spinal deformities. Lori A. Karol, MD, provided a Hector Kay Memorial Lecture during which she updated attendees on the most recent findings in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)- sponsored Bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Trial (BrAIST). Brigid Driscoll, PT, CO, presented a symposium that focused on strengthening and the position of the center of mass of the body during orthotic management of children with equinus deformities, particularly those with cerebral palsy.
An ACPOC attendee visits with an exhibitor of pediatric O&P supplies. Photograph courtesy of Janet G. Marshall.
Among the topics relevant to all healthcare team members were the “Physician Guided Clinical Forum,” during which members were encouraged to bring challenging cases to the podium to solicit input from attendees, and “Evidence-Based Medicine: How Did We Get Here and How It Can Lead Us Astray.” In addition, two separate sessions addressed the orthotic and prosthetic implications of motion analysis.
Much of this year’s prosthetic focus was on the well-being of children who have limb deficiencies and amputations, and their families. For example, a series of presentations from the Netherlands discussed the role of upper- and lower-limb prostheses in sports, bicycling, and satisfaction, and members from Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey, presented on the functional status and quality of life of children with limb differences and their parents.
Next year’s ACPOC Annual Meeting will be held May 13–16 in Clearwater Beach, Florida.
