I have received a request from a friends aun
Good Evening Colleaques,,
I have received a request from a friends aunt with post polio living in Bogota,
Columbia. She is looking for a new KAFO. The following information is what she
sent me. If you know of a good orthotist in Columbia or somewhere close it
would be appreciated very much appreciated according her niece who is a friend
of mine. She has an interesting history of who made her devices in the past. I
have several photos of her current device which she sent me, the construction
seems to be of laminant and metal.
I live in Bogotá, Colombia and I am 64 years old, I am retired. When I was one
year old I had Polio and I have had to use a long left leg brace all my life.
I am originally from Bogota, Colombia and currently I reside here. Until the age
of 14, I used an aluminium brace made in Colombia. However, in 1960 I went to
the United States to the Elizabeth Kenny Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota in
order to have a new brace made. Nine years later in 1969, I went to the NYU
Medical Center and Doctor H. Richard Lehneis fitted me with a supracondylar
knee-ankle orthosis (brace). The purpose of this, was to stabilize my left lower
limb which I am unable to control because of the effects of post-poliomyelitis.
In 1983 I returned to NYU Medical Center and Doctor Lehneis made me a new
orthosis with the same design but of a new and lighter material. I have been
using this brace since then. Although it allows me to walk, due to its
considerable wear and tear it has made it progressively more difficult for me to
walk comfortably with it.
I am contacting you today because _____ let me know you will help me. I would
like to know if you would be able to make new brace for me or is possible to you
to tell who could made a new brace for me. In my country is not easy to find a
person who made a good brace for me because the cases of Polio are decreasing
they are using polipropylen and it is very heavy. Since I am living in Bogota,
Colombia, is it necessary for me to travel to USA, and if so, approximately for
how long would I have to stay there.
I am sending photos of my brace to give you an idea of what I am currently
using. I am curious to know if there have been further advancements in the
materials and engineering used today to make this type of brace. Lastly, if you
would send me an estimate of what a brace similar to this may costs today I
would greatly appreciate it.Thank you,
Don McGovern, CPO, FAAOP
