Objective
To describe the inappropriate application of spinal orthosis and the frequency of the noncompliance and to identify the relating factors for compliance of spinal orthosis in patients with spinal metastasis.

Method
Twenty patients diagnosed as spinal instability due to spinal metastasis and applied with Knight-Taylor thoracolumbosacral orthosis or Knight lumbosacral orthosis were interviewed about the mobility and pain. Visual analogue scale (VAS) about severity of back pain and discomfort was also applied to each patient.

Results
Nine of the twenty patients were considered as being in poor compliance group. Six of eleven patients with good compliance had inappropriate application method or fitting problems. Inability to walk, poor walking endurance, greater degree of discomfort were related to the poor compliance of the spinal orthosis in patients with spinal metastasis.

Conclusion
Even with intensive education about the need for spinal orthosis and the method for application, there is high probability that the patients did not use the orthosis or use the orthosis incorrectly especially when patients cannot walk (or cannot walk enough time) and complain severe discomfort.