The latest results of the ASCENT K2 (Assessing clinical outcomes with microprocessor knee utilization in a K2 population) study demonstrated that people who were categorized as Medicare K2 ambulators and provided with microprocessor knees (MPKs) maintained their quality of life, whereas individuals using non-microprocessor knees (NMPK) reported a significant decline.
The goal of the two-arm, 12-month randomized controlled trial was to assess the effects of MPKs versus NMPKs among unilateral transfemoral prosthesis users over 65 years old who were classified as K2 ambulators. Fear-of-falling avoidance behavior, falls, and near-falls were assessed alongside additional measures of mobility, balance, and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in 107 people.
The MPK group (n = 54, age = 73.6 ± 0.8 years, 47 diabetes/dysvascular etiology) reported significant improvement in activity avoidance due to fear of falling, which was not seen in the NMPK group (n = 53, age = 73.7 ± 0.8 years, 44 diabetes/dysvascular etiology). The MPK group, who used the Ottobock Kenevo, experienced significantly fewer falls and near-falls than the NMPK group. Results were also significantly favorable for mobility and HR-QoL for the MPK group and not the NMPK group.
The participants who were provided with an MPK had significant improvement in balance and walking ability (i.e., Timed Up and Go and the Ten-Meter Walk Test performance) that was not noted for those in an NMPK.
The authors concluded that MPKs resulted in lower levels of activity avoidance due to fear of falling, reduced falls, and near-falls, and better HR-QoL as opposed to NMPKs, and wrote that expanded use of MPKs has the potential to enhance safety and HR-QoL among older prosthesis users with limited functional capabilities.
In 2021, Hanger and Ottobock joined resources to conduct the five-year clinical study to collect data around what potential health benefits MPK technologies provide people 65 and older to establish evidence that could expand and support coverage policies.
The open-access study, “ASsessing Clinical outcomes with microprocEssor kNee uTilization in a K2 population (ASCENT K2): Randomized controlled trial results for above-knee prosthesis users over age 65,” was published in Disability and Rehabilitation.
